Update from DHRM: Guidance to Mitigate Risk of Covid-19–PHEL Ends May 31

On March 21, 2022, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board took steps to revoke the current Virginia Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 (“Virginia Standard”), 16VAC25-220. The revocation was effective as of March 23, 2022.

The Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), in partnership with the Virginia Safety and Health Board, is implementing new guidance for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace:

Guidance for Employers to Mitigate the Risk of COVID-19 to Workers (Guidance Document): This Guidance document will be published in the Virginia Register today, March 28, 2022 for a 30-day comment period ending on April 27, 2022. In summary, the guidelines provide updated and less restrictive direction while maintaining a safe environment for state employees.

NOTE: Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) will continue to be available to employees as outlined in the DHRM Policy Guide – Policy 4.52 Public Health Emergency Leave (dated January 10, 2022) until May 31, 2022.

Submitted by:
Charlotte Calobrisi, AVP-HR, CCalobrisi@nvcc.edu