On December 21, 2021, Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued Public Health Order 2021-2, a vaccine mandate for certain public accommodations that is meant to help curb the spread of COVID-19 as the Omicron variant continues to surge.
On the evening of December 17, 2021, the Sixth Circuit dissolved the Fifth Circuit’s stay of the federal OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which imposes “vaccinate or test” requirements for private employers.
On December 16, 2021, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board adopted its second set of proposed revisions to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 ETS. Governor Newsom also issued a surprise order clearing the way for a potential third readoption.
On December 15, 2021, New York City published guidance and FAQs on its vaccine mandate Separately, Mayor de Blasio issued a revised emergency order expanding the Key to NYC Pass.
On December 13, 2021, the California Department of Public Heath (CDPH) issued new guidance requiring universal statewide masking indoors, irrespective of vaccination status, between December 15, 2021 and January 15, 2022.
After the passage of Florida Statute 381.00317, employers with employees in Florida were left with new rules relating to COVID-19 vaccination policies, in many instances contrary to the signaled direction of federal government rules and guidance.
On December 10, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that face masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces in New York State, effective December 13, 2021.
On December 7, 2021, a federal court in Georgia issued an order enjoining the president, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, and 18 executive agencies and departments from enforcing the vaccine mandate that was established for federal contractors.
