An excerpt from Doug Larsen’s recent article:
“On November 30, 2020 Cal/OSHA adopted Emergency Temporary Standards to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers quickly and begrudgingly complied, spending significant time and energy implementing a COVID Prevention Program.
In May of 1021 Cal/OSHA teases employers with revisions to the Standards. But the morning of the Cal/OSHA Standards Board meeting, the planned revisions were scrapped.
Over the Memorial Day weekend Cal/OSHA issued the second set of revisions to the Standards. After a lengthy healring Standards Board adopted these revised revisions, determining they were better than the original Standards from November 2020.
Employers have been making changes to the workplace to prepare for June 15th. But just a few hours ago, Cal/OSHA voted to withdrawal the revisions they approved on June 3rd.
Why? Because they want to consider the latest guidance on masking from the COD and the California Department of Public Health. Really? Don’t we already have the CDC guidance? Hasn’t Governor Newsom confirmed he will open the sate’s economy on June 15th?
The CDC states, “fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing…” The only exception is for other laws that would require masking.
But why would any government impose masking requirements on fully vaccinates people if government followed science? Good questions, isn’t it? We also know that plexiglass does not inhibit an aerosol (but that hasn’t stopped Cal/OSHA from mandating this false hope). And the CDC acknowledged that the risk of transmitting COVID via surfaces is very low. So why must we disinfect so frequently?
Doesn’t it make you wonder if government is playing politics?
What does the CDPH say about masking? A memorandum published June 9th tells us fully vaccinated person are not required to wear masks outdoors except during crowded events. Unvaccinated persons must wear facemasks outdoors when distancing cannot be maintained.
However, the CDPH also tells us that effective June 15th, we now have a new set of rules. Fully vaccinated people are exempt from mask-wearing except when on public transit, at school or childcare, in healthcare settings, in correctional facilities, and in shelters.
Come June 15th, businesses “may choose” one of the following options: (Does this mean a business must choose an option, or can it ignore the CDPH?)
- Provide patrons with vaccination requirements and allow them to self-attest;
- require proof of vaccination; or
- Require all patrons to wear a mask.
Let’s get real. Self-attesting is unrealistic. Asking every patron to wear a mask or show proof of vaccination will just lose business to a competitor. Governor Newsom said business will fully reopen on June 15th so what’s up with the continuing mask rules? Good questions. There is absolutely no good answer.
When will California eliminate the COVID restrictions? Your guess is as good as mine.”
