Category: COVID-19

In the ever-evolving world that is COVID-19 guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its “Considerations for Wearing Masks.”  In the August 7 update, the CDC says that people should wear masks in public and when around people who do not live in their household.  Wearing masks is particularly important when social distancing is not feasible. The CDC recommends that we wear masks because “[m]asks...

The CDC recently updated its guidance on when someone may stop isolating in a number of COVID-19 related scenarios.  If you have been around someone with COVID-19, the CDC recommends that you remain home for 14 days after your last exposure to that person.  However, if you developed COVID-19 illness within the previous three (3) months and recovered and remain without COVID-19 symptoms, you do not, according to the CDC, need to stay...

Late Wednesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation that adds Georgia to the list of states limiting liability as to claims brought against businesses by customers, employees, and members of the public who contract or allege exposure to COVID-19.  The new law became effective immediately and will expire July 2021.  Georgia joins Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming in enacting virus-related...

This past April, the Department of Labor issued temporary regulations regarding paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).  The regulations addressed many issues raised by the FFCRA and answered or provided clarification on a number of COVID-leave-related topics.  On August 3, 2020, a federal judge in New York invalidated some of the DOL’s regulations and as a result has expanded FFCRA leave.  New York v. United...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") has issued new guidance on the use of cloth face coverings, including recommendations for when face coverings may not be appropriate in the workplace.   The CDC guidance supplements  OSHA's 'Frequently Asked Questions" on the use of cloth face masks that were published in early June. According to the CDC, cloth face coverings "are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory...

This past Friday, the DOL issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (No. 2020-4) that clarifies circumstances under which an employee may take leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) due to closure of a summer camp or other program. As a refresher, the FFCRA requires most employers with fewer than 500 employees to offer paid leave for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This includes situations where an employee is unable to...

As businesses begin the challenge of reopening and ensuring the safety of employees in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic , the EEOC issued important guidance last week regarding the use of antibody testing.   Antibody tests look for signs in the blood to determine whether the person being tested was ever infected with COVID-19—even if that person never showed symptoms.  While antibody tests do not test for immunity, they may...