By Lorie E. AlmonMeredith-Anne BergerAnne R. Dana, and Glenn J. Smith

Seyfarth Synopsis: With no fanfare or effective means of publication, New York adopted an emergency regulation, effective May 26, 2021, implementing the latest CDC guidance on face coverings, with certain key exceptions. Notably, face coverings are required for unvaccinated food service workers at all
Continue Reading The Never Ending Story – More COVID-19 Guidance for New York: Adoption of an Emergency Regulation for Face Coverings and Proposed Rollbacks of Industry-Specific Guidance

By Brent I. ClarkJames L. CurtisAdam R. YoungA. Scott HeckerPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 18, 2021, OSHA adopted (by reference) CDC’s May 13, 2021 guidance for fully vaccinated individuals in many non-healthcare settings. Specifically, OSHA announced that employers should “refer to the CDC guidance
Continue Reading OSHA Temporarily Adopts CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Employers

By Brent I. ClarkJames L. CurtisAdam R. YoungA. Scott HeckerPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 13, 2021, CDC announced further updated recommendations for fully vaccinated people in non-healthcare settings.

In an unexpected turnabout from previous guidance, the CDC updated its “Interim Public Health Recommendations for
Continue Reading Breathe Easy – CDC Advises that Fully Vaccinated People Need Not Mask or Social Distance in Most Settings

By Brent I. ClarkJames L. CurtisAdam R. YoungA. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 27, 2021, CDC announced updated recommendations for fully vaccinated people in non-healthcare settings (note that on the same day the CDC also posted Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19
Continue Reading CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People

By Brent I. ClarkJames L. CurtisAdam R. YoungPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The CDC recently updated its Guidance on Domestic Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic. The guidance also provides domestic travel recommendations for unvaccinated people.

Image from CDC.

The CDC recently issued updated guidance regarding travel.
Continue Reading CDC Publishes Guidance on Domestic Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By James L. CurtisAdam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just released revised guidance on quarantine time allowing for two quarantine options in addition to the standard 14 day quarantine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just released revised
Continue Reading CDC Revises Guidance to Reduce COVID-19 Quarantine Time

By Brent I. ClarkBenjamin D. BriggsAdam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The CDC continues to expand its guidance on the potential routes of COVID-19 transmission, changing its definition of “close contact” of 15 minutes or more within 6 feet, to now mean 15 minutes aggregated across an
Continue Reading CDC Expands Definition of “Close Contact” to Include Contact Within Six Feet for 15 Minutes or More, With Minutes Aggregated Over the Course of 24 Hours

By John Ayers-MannDaniel B. Klein, and Robert A. Fisher

Seyfarth Synopsis: As we previously reported, on July 24, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued an Executive Order announcing a $500 daily civil fine, effective August 1, for individuals traveling into the Commonwealth who fail to comply with the State’s mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement.

Pursuant to the Order,
Continue Reading Updated Massachusetts Guidance Clarifies Lodging Providers’ Responsibility For Ensuring Guest Compliance With Travel Order

By Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Christopher DeGroff, and Matthew J. Gagnon

Seyfarth Synopsis:  The EEOC recently released updated guidance for employers trying to navigate the federal anti-discrimination laws in the COVID-19 era – entitled What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19. The most recent update adds significantly to the EEOC’s position on how
Continue Reading Updated EEOC COVID-19 Guidance: The Commission Adds New Q&A To Help Employers Understand Their EEO Obligations In These Trying Times

By Andrew H. Perellis, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: In another business-friendly move, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently updated its Justice Manual to clarify that it “should not treat a party’s noncompliance with a guidance document as itself a violation of applicable statutes or regulations [or to] establish a violation by
Continue Reading Still Business-Friendly Times – DOJ Limits the Use of Agency Guidance Documents in Civil Enforcement