The COVID-19 State of Emergency for California ended on February 28, 2023. In its wake, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced impending updates to its remaining COVID-19 mandates, including those applicable to healthcare workers.

On March 3, 2023, the CDPH announced it would end vaccination requirements for healthcare workers, including those in direct care, adult care, correctional facilities, and detention centers effective April 3, 2023.

In addition to lifting the vaccination mandate, the CDPH will also remove masking requirements for high-risk settings effective April 3, 2023. Masks will no longer be required in health care, long-term care, and correctional facilities as well as homeless, emergency, and warming and cooling centers.

The CDPH indicated that the month between the announcement and the April 3rd effective date is intended to provide health departments and healthcare facilities with time to develop plans customized to their needs and local conditions.

In addition to these healthcare-related orders, the CDPH updated its Isolation and Quarantine Guidance to remove the recommendation that individuals test for COVID-19 in order to leave isolation before Day 10 under certain circumstances. Effective March 13, 2023, a COVID-19-positive person may end isolation after five days if they feel well, have improving symptoms, and are fever-free for 24 hours. The Guidance also amends masking requirements for individuals leaving isolation sooner than Day 10.