The California Dental Association introduced proposed revisions June 7 to COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards set forth by the CDA and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The CDA stated that state dental employers must provide respirators, such as N95 masks, to unvaccinated staff for voluntary use.
The revisions were approved by the CDA June 3 and will now be sent to the state's Office of Administrative Law for approval. If approved, some revisions will go into effect June 15. Other proposed revisions will go into effect July 31.
Employers must continue a standard started in November 2020 requiring them to provide and ensure use of eye and respiratory protection to employees involved in procedures that could expose them to potentially infectious material.
Fully vaccinated employees would no longer be required to practice physical distancing, be tested for COVID-19 or use a face covering under certain conditions. However, employers will be required to make respirators and COVID-19 testing available to unvaccinated employees at no cost to them starting July 31.
The full list of revisions can be viewed here.