Updated CDC Guidance for COVID-19 After Expiration of Public Health Emergency

With the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its guidance relating to collecting public health data.

The CDC updates are as follows:

1. The CDC will no longer receive data to publish the Community Transmission levels of COVID-19. Healthcare facilities should check with local health departments on community activity.

2. The CDC does recommend source control based on individual circumstances (e.g., activity in the community). Source control is an important intervention during periods of higher respiratory virus transmission.

Source control is the use of respirators or well-fitting face masks or cloth masks that offer varying degrees of protection.

Source control is recommended for individuals in healthcare settings who:

1. Have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses.
2. Had close contact or higher-risk exposure with someone with COVID-19 for 10 days after exposure.

Source control is recommended, in general, in the following circumstances:

1. Healthcare personnel who work in an area of the facility that has a higher outbreak of respiratory illness or is experiencing higher cases of COVID-19
2. Facility-wide source control should be implemented in areas that are higher risk (emergency dept., urgent care) periods of higher levels of community outbreaks.
3. Have source control recommended by public health authorities.

Takeaway for:

Patients, Visitors entering a healthcare facility who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, or another respiratory illness should wear a mask. 

Healthcare Personnel who work in an area of the facility with an outbreak of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness should wear a well-fitting facemask, or N95 respirator or higher. Healthcare facilities should monitor local health departments for information on COVID-19 in their communities to determine when broader use of source control is warranted.

3. CDC added an appendix to assist with how and when to implement broader use of source control.

The CDC recommendations with no changes:

1. Visual alerts should be posted at the entrance of facilities.