Rising cases of the delta coronavirus variant have led to new health mandates and changes in how dental practitioners operate.
Here are four recent COVID-19 updates to know:
- A July 26 California public health order will require all healthcare workers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or get tested regularly if unvaccinated starting Aug. 9.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for 115,000 of its front-line healthcare workers, including dentists, beginning July 28. Workers must be vaccinated within eight weeks or face penalties.
- The CDC updated its COVID-19 Guidance for Dental Settings to recommend that dental care providers only avoid aerosol-generating procedures for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. If these procedures must be performed, the CDC recommended the procedure be performed in an airborne infection isolation room under certain safety precautions.
- The American Dental Association also updated its pandemic procedures for dental offices to mitigate risks of COVID-19. These include implementing safety plans for exposure control, conducting required Occupational Safety and Health Administration hazard assessments, and screenings for patients, staff and non-employees entering dental offices.