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Jason Stavely

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Jason Stavely provides advice and counseling to employers on a variety of labor, employment, and human resource matters.

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The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health has again issued a revised Public Health Order (Order) that significantly narrows Los Angeles County’s mask mandate, effective March 4, 2022. As explained in the Order, the updates are largely aimed at relaxing masking requirements to align with Executive Order N-5-22 and California Department of Public Health guidance issued February 28, 2022.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued a revised Health Order (“Order”) that makes important changes to Los Angeles County’s mask mandate, effective February 25, 2022. The major revisions are summarized below:

New Options Available to Establishments: Operators of “[a]ll indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and public and private businesses” may choose to allow fully vaccinated persons ages 5 and older to choose to be exempt from the indoor masking requirement under one of the two options below:

    • Option 1: Allow both fully vaccinated customers/visitors and fully vaccinated onsite workers to unmask while indoors. 
      • Requirements: verify proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a recent negative COVID-19 test result prior to entry for all persons, age 5 and older.
        • Tests: must have been taken within 2 days if PCR test or 1 day if antigen test. Onsite workers not fully vaccinated may submit a negative COVID‑19 viral test prior to work onsite every 3 days in compliance with Cal-OSHA protocols.
        • Definition of Full Vaccination: The Order tracks the current CDC definition of “fully vaccinated,” meaning two weeks or more after a second dose in a two-dose series (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (e.g., J&J).
      • Verification:
        • Tests: Operator must view (1) individual’s photo ID and (2) a printed document, email, or text message with results from a test provider or laboratory. (NOTE: at-home test results are only sufficient for employees, not the general public). See link for more details.
        • Vaccination: Operator must view (1) individual’s photo ID; and (2) vaccination card in print /electronic form or other evidence of vaccination.
      • NOTE: for any persons to be exempt from the indoor public setting masking requirement under this option, all persons who are not fully vaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination must (1) provide a negative COVID-19 viral test and (2) wear a well-fitting mask while indoors, except when actively eating or drinking.

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