A news source recently reported that “another summer COVID wave may have started in the U.S.” (NPR, 2023). As a result, NYS employers may begin seeing an uptick in the number of employees who are absent from work due to illness. You yourself may have wondered, “What are my obligations regarding employee sick leave due to COVID-19?”
Recently, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) weighed-in, backing away somewhat from the Department’s previous face mask mandate for certain health care settings, principally facilities regulated by the Department under Articles 28, 36 and 40 of the New York State Public Health Law (PHL) relating to hospitals, home healthcare services, and hospices, respectively.
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 10, 2023) – The New York State Department of Health today issued a COVID-19 advisory for the use of masks and face coverings in health care facilities, aligning the State's guidance with the latest federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The New York State Education Department has developed a webpage containing many frequently asked questions related to the developing COVID-19 situation. An excerpt from this page as relates to continuing education requirements is included below.
On March 17, 2022, the provision of the New York HERO Act requiring masking has “ended” without it being renewed. Therefore, apart from those health care settings identified by the Commissioner of Health in her recent determination (March 2, 2022) which only applies to "facilities or entities regulated under Articles 28 [Hospitals], 36 [Home Health Care Services] and 40 [Hospices] of the Public Health Law," the mask requirement does not appear to apply to private practice settings in New York State.
The New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of New York who have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York State masking requirements continue to be in effect for health care settings, including chiropractic offices.
The Governor announced yesterday that the statewide mask mandate was lifted as of today. There were a number of exceptions to this, including for health care settings.
Earlier this week New York State's mask mandate was thrown into doubt when a judge In Nassau county ruled that the Governor did not have the authority to issue a mask mandate, temporarily rendering the mask order null and void.
New York State Department of Health Releases Updated Recommendations for Healthcare Workers Related to COVID-19 Exposure and Infection
What is the current quarantine guidance for fully vaccinated, asymptomatic healthcare providers who are exposed to COVID-19?
New York Governor Hochul issued a statewide mask mandate that take effect today, December 13, 2021. This mandate requires that all healthcare settings must continue to require masks be worn regardless of vaccination status.
Back in August, New York had issued a vaccine mandate that applied to all healthcare workers in hospitals, long term care facilities and nursing homes. It required these facilities to develop and implement a policy requiring employee vaccinations, with limited exceptions for those with religious or medical reasons. According to the language as written, we did not believe this would apply to private office settings.
The following statement related to the federal mandate regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements was received by the NYSCA from the ACA on September 15, 2021 via email:
“This regulation does not directly apply to physician’s offices as these are not regulated under the provider-specific Medicare health and safety regulatory provisions, generally referred to as “Conditions of Participation.”
President Joe Biden on Thursday, 09/09/2021 imposed stringent new vaccine rules on federal workers, large employers, and health care staff in a sweeping attempt to contain the latest surge of Covid-19.
On September 6, 2021, Governor Hochul announced that the New York State Commissioner of Health officially designated COVID-19 as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health. This designation triggers the obligation for employers to implement their New York HERO Act plans.
At this time, it appears the vaccine mandate will apply to all healthcare workers in hospitals, long term care facilities and nursing homes and will require these facilities to develop and implement a policy mandating employee vaccinations, with limited exceptions for those with religious or medical reasons.
As you are already aware, the CDC federal mask mandate remains in effect for pre-K-12 schools, public transit, and healthcare settings in NYS.
Governor Cuomo has announced today that New York has hit a 70% adult vaccination rate. This means that effective immediately the social and commercial restrictions are lifted on all industries, including sports & recreation, construction, manufacturing, trade, child care, camps, food services, offices, real estate, buildings, agriculture, fishing, forestry, amusement & family entertainment, personal care services, gyms, retail, malls and movie theaters.
