On January 13, 2022, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi once again issued back-to-back executive orders implementing additional COVID-19 restrictions and extending vaccine booster requirements for employees in additional sectors.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to grant emergency relief to stay implementation of the OSHA ETS regarding COVID-19, Illinois employers were left wondering whether they were still required to implement a vaccinate or test policy.
In response to the rapid influx of COVID-19 variant cases over the course of the holiday season, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser recently announced further efforts by the city to curb the spread of the virus.
Due to high infection rates from the Omicron variant and an increase in hospitalizations, on January 7, 2022, British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer announced an order requiring employers to re-activate their COVID-19 Safety Plans.
On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, lifted lower court injunctions that had blocked enforcement in 25 states of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Interim Final Rule requiring healthcare worker vaccinations.
On January 13, 2022, the United States Supreme Court granted emergency relief to stay implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regarding COVID-19.
On December 31, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2021-87 (EO) requiring first responders and certain private sector personnel to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot in order to be considered fully vaccinated.
The Puerto Rico Department of Health has updated its Protocol for COVID-19 Case Management in the Workplace to help prevent exposure and provide recommendations for case management in the workplace amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
On Friday, January 7, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument regarding two of the Biden administration’s most contentious COVID-19 workplace health and safety policies.