In mid-December, as COVID-19 cases began to rise, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reinstituted indoor masking requirements and Cal/OSHA confirmed that requirements applied in the workplace. When issued, the mandate was only supposed to remain in effect until January 15, 2022.

However, with COVID-19 cases still on an uptick, the CDPH has extended the requirement for universal masking indoors through February 15, 2022.  While not mandated under the state order, the guidance does encourage the use of surgical masks or higher-level respirators such as N95s.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has gone a step further than the state guidance and issued an updated order that requires employers to provide employees who work indoors and in close contact with other workers or the public, with medical-grade masks, surgical masks, or higher-level respirator such as N95, at all times while indoors or at the worksite, no later than January 17, 2022.

Employers should continue to monitor local health departments, the California Department of Public Health, and Cal/OSHA for changes to COVID-19 workplace requirements.