Healthcare Regulatory Alerts

On September 23, 2022 the CDC revised its “Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19”. Under the new recommendations:

1. Healthcare institutions are no longer required to actively assess whether visitors entering its facility may be symptomatic for COVID-19 (e.g. take a person’s temperature, ask screening questions for symptoms, etc.). Instead it is permissible to post visual alerts (signage) in strategic places such as entrances and waiting areas informing visitors not to enter the facility if they have;
   • A positive viral test for SARS-CoV-2;
   • Symptoms of COVID-19, or
   • Have come into close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection within the past 10 days
2. When SARS-CoV-2 community transmission levels are not categorized by the CDC as being “high”, healthcare institutions are no longer mandated to require healthcare workers (HCW) to wear masks unless the HCW:
   • Has a suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or other respiratory infection (e.g., those with runny nose, cough, sneeze); or
   • Has had close contact (patients and visitors) or a higher-risk exposure (HCP) with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection, for 10 days after their exposure; or
   • Resides or works on a unit or area of the facility experiencing a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak; or
   • Have otherwise have had masking recommended by public health authorities.
   If community transmission levels are “high”, masking continues to be recommended for everyone in a healthcare setting when they are in areas where they could encounter patients. Access the full guidance of the revised CDC recommendations by using the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory to provide updates on severe manifestations of monkeypox being observed in the United States during the current outbreak.

People who are immunocompromised due to HIV or other conditions are at higher risk for severe manifestations of monkeypox than people who are immunocompetent. Because people with HIV-associated immunocompromise are at risk for severe manifestations of monkeypox, the HIV status of all sexually active adults and adolescents with suspected or confirmed monkeypox should be determined. There are diagnostic and clinical management strategies that may help address severe manifestations of monkeypox.