Latest Masking Guidance
As per the latest DPH guidance, CT residents will no longer be required to wear face masks in Connecticut hospitals, outpatient health care settings, and homeless shelters after a state masking order expired on Friday, April 15th. Dental offices are healthcare outpatient centers.
Additionally, dentists can continue to administer vaccines but dental hygienists cannot.
DPH Website
CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
Summary of Recent Changes
Updates as of February 2, 2022
Due to concerns about increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, this guidance is being updated to enhance protection for healthcare personnel, patients, and visitors and to address concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system given a surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections. These updates will be refined as additional information becomes available to inform recommended actions.
- Empiric use of Transmission-Based Precautions (quarantine) is recommended for patients who have had close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection if they are not up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- In general, quarantine is not needed for asymptomatic patients who are up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses or who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 90 days; potential exceptions are described in the guidance. However, some of these patients should still be tested as described in the testing section of the guidance.
- A test-based strategy and (if available) consultation with infectious disease experts is now recommended for determining the duration of Transmission-Based Precautions for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
- Included additional examples when universal respirator use could be considered
Additional updates that will have implications for healthcare facilities were made in the following guidance documents:
CDC released interim recommendations due to staffing shortages in health care facilities. Below you will find the chart, which demonstrates guidelines for work restrictions for healthcare personnel with COVID-19 Infection and Exposures.
To view a larger version of the chart, click here
CDC Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 –
Summary of Recent Changes
Updates as of January 21, 2022
Due to concerns about increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, this guidance is being updated to enhance protection for healthcare personnel (HCP), patients, and visitors, and to address concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system given a surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections. These updates will be refined as additional information becomes available to inform recommended actions.
- Updated infographic and text in guidance to include links to CDC’s definition of what it means to be up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- In general, asymptomatic HCP who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 90 days do not require work restriction following a higher-risk exposure.