As of Saturday, September 17, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) ended its policy of requiring schools to verify the vaccination status of workers. Schools are also no longer required to test unvaccinated or partially vaccinated workers on a weekly basis. A copy of the CDPH’s announcement is available here.
While state-mandated verification testing protocols are no longer required at K-12 schools, this change does not impact city or county department of health orders, which may still require verification and regular testing. Schools should continue to monitor and follow all local COVID-19 related requirements. Schools may also adopt stricter verification and testing guidelines than required by state and local agencies. Moreover, despite this change, the CDPH encourages schools to continue providing testing resources to staff and students.
The change to CDPH’s policy may affect issues beyond verifications and testing. For example, it may be relevant when considering reasonable accommodations of unvaccinated employees. Schools are encouraged to contact legal counsel for further guidance.
LCW attorneys continue to monitor developments in COVID-19 guidance and requirements, and are available to assist schools with any questions.