Summary of Recent Changes
Significant changes to this guidance include the following:
6-9-22
EMS personnel may be exposed to COVID-19 in the community or at home and increase the risk of transmission to patients or other co-workers, especially if they are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Exposures encountered by EMS personnel at work are unlike those that might occur in the community because EMS agencies follow infection control prevention and control procedures and EMS personnel use personal protective equipment (PPE) per strict standards. Due to their often extensive and close contact with vulnerable individuals, EMS personnel with symptoms of possible COVID-19 illness and those with community or high-risk occupational exposures who have not received all required COVID-19 vaccine doses should be managed more conservatively.
These guidelines have evolved as a result of greater experience, the availability of published data on COVID-19, continued evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 including asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission of more infectious variants, established infection control principles, and the availability of effective COVID-19 vaccines.
In addition to following these guidelines, EMS provider agencies are expected to follow State and Local Health Officer Orders regarding health care worker vaccination requirements and CA Dept of Public Health AFL for return to work for exposed and infected EMS personnel:*
They are also expected to follow the CDC and Cal/OSHA COVID-19 infection prevention guidance and requirements, including universal use of PPE for patient care, use of N95 respirators for the care of suspect or confirmed COVID-19 cases, and routine respirator fit testing.
Employers and facilities can have policies that are stricter than those required by the LA County Health Officer Orders and Cal/OSHA or recommended by the CDC.
All persons who work in Emergency Services Provider Agencies must complete a primary COVID-19 vaccine series and receive a booster dose as required by the LA County Public Health Officer and further explained in associated FAQs. Workers not yet eligible for boosters must be in compliance no later than 15 days after becoming eligible for the booster dose. Workers who have completed their primary series who provide proof of subsequent COVID-19 infection may defer booster administration for up to 90 days after infection. See AFL 21-34.3 COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for HCP. The 90 days are from the onset of the initial COVID-19 symptoms. If they never had symptoms, then the 90 days are from the date of collection of the first positive viral COVID-19 test. During the 90-day period after infection with COVID-19, LAC DPH does not recommend any additional COVID-19 viral testing of asymptomatic workers.
Workers may be exempt from the vaccination requirements based on either a) Religious Beliefs or b) a Qualifying Medical Reason.
Refer to Table 1 for current immunization requirements. See the CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines for clinical guidance.
Table 1. California Immunization Requirements for Covered Workers| COVID-19 Vaccine | Primary vaccination series | When to get the vaccine booster dose* | Which vaccine booster dose to receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderna | 1st and 2nd doses | Booster dose 5 months after 2nd dose | Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States may be used for the booster dose, but either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech are recommended. |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | 1st and 2nd doses | Booster dose 5 months after 2nd dose | Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States may be used for the booster dose, but either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech are recommended. |
| Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen | 1st dose | Booster dose 2 months after 1st dose | Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States may be used for the booster dose, but either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech are recommended. |
| World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listing COVID-19 vaccine | All recommended doses | Booster dose 5 months after getting all recommended doses | Single booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine |
| A mix and match series composed of any combination of FDA-approved, FDA-authorized, or WHO-EUL COVID-19 vaccines | All recommended doses | Booster dose 5 months after getting all recommended doses | Single booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine |
| *Workers not yet eligible for boosters must be in compliance no later than 15 days after the recommended timeframe above for receiving the booster dose. Workers who provide proof of COVID-19 infection may defer booster administration for up to 90 days after infection. | |||
Asymptomatic EMS personnel with higher-risk workplace exposures or community exposures are managed more conservatively if they are unvaccinated OR they are vaccinated and booster eligible, but have not yet received their booster dose.
EMS provider agencies should follow the table below to guide the management and work restrictions for asymptomatic EMS personnel with high-risk exposures based upon their vaccination status, recent infection history, and facility staffing level.
There are no work restrictions for EMS personnel with a lower risk exposure. However, all EMS personnel with exposure to SARS-CoV-2 who are not restricted from work should follow all recommended infection prevention and control practices, including wearing well-fitting source control (respirator preferred), monitoring themselves for fever or symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and not reporting to work when ill or if testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Table 2. Work Restrictions for Asymptomatic EMS Personnel with High-Risk Exposures (Quarantine)| Vaccination Status | Routine | Critical Staffing Shortage |
|---|---|---|
| Received all primary series doses and a booster OR received all primary series doses and not booster-eligible | No work restriction with negative diagnostic test upon identification and at 5-7 days | No work restrictions |
| Unvaccinated§, OR incompletely vaccinated§ OR received all primary series doses and is booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose§ | 7 days with diagnostic test upon identification and negative diagnostic test† within 48 hours prior to return | No work restrictions (test if possible)^ |
§In general, asymptomatic EMS personnel who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 90 days do not require work restriction nor testing following a higher-risk exposure.
^Staff working during their quarantine period should wear a N95 respirator for source control at all times while in the facility until they meet routine return-to-work criteria.
Higher-risk occupational exposure
In the EMS setting, the following exposures to a confirmed infectious COVID-19 case* are considered high-risk:
*COVID-19 cases are considered to be infectious beginning 2 days prior to symptom onset (or initial positive viral test if case is asymptomatic) until the time they meet criteria for discontinuing isolation.
Community Exposure
Community exposures are considered higher-risk exposures if they meet the following definition of a close contact:
*COVID-19 cases are considered to be infectious beginning 2 days prior to symptom onset (or initial positive viral test if case is asymptomatic) until the time they meet criteria for discontinuing isolation.
**This is regardless of use of face masks of the case or contact.
For more information, see the following CDPH AFL guidance:
Symptomatic persons Regardless of vaccination status, EMS personnel with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 should be prioritized for SARS-CoV-2 viral testing (and other respiratory viral testing, such as influenza as indicated), even if the symptoms are mild.
EMS personnel with SARS-CoV-2 infection Under routine staffing, it is recommended that infected staff be tested in order to return to work early (prior to completing the 10-day isolation) unless under crisis staffing shortages. See Table 3 Work Restrictions for HCP with SARS-CoV-2 Infection (Isolation).
Post-exposure Testing is recommended* for asymptomatic EMS personnel after a high-risk occupational or community close-contact exposure to SARS-CoV-2 as outlined in Table 2 Work Restrictions for Asymptomatic HCP with Exposures (Quarantine) unless under crisis staffing shortages. Testing should also be performed as part of an outbreak investigation.
Screening EMS Provider Agencies are required to ensure routine testing of unvaccinated employees that have been granted a vaccine exemption and those who are incompletely vaccinated against COVID-19, pursuant to the LA County Order. Note that employees cannot opt to regularly test instead of getting vaccinated.
*EMS personnel who previously tested positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic should not be retested for 90 days since the date of symptom onset or date of collection of the first positive test. If the staff develop new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 <90 days of the initial positive test, if an alternative etiology cannot be identified, then retesting (preferably with antigen test) can be considered in consultation with facility medical director, infectious disease specialists, or infection control experts.
EMS Provider Agencies should have a plan to evaluate EMS personnel with symptoms of possible COVID-19 illness. It is recommended that symptomatic personnel be evaluated by a clinician. Symptomatic personnel with compatible symptoms and no clear alternate diagnosis should be told to isolate at home pending clinical evaluation and testing.
For EMS personnel who had symptoms of possible COVID-19 and had it ruled out, either with negative test(s) and/or with a clinical assessment that COVID-19 is not suspected (e.g., clear alternate diagnosis), then return to work decisions should be based on their other suspected or confirmed diagnoses.
See CDC Interim Guidance for Managing HCP with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.
| Vaccination Status | Routine | Critical Staffing Shortage |
|---|---|---|
| Received all primary series doses and a booster OR received all primary series doses and not booster-eligible | 5 days* with negative diagnostic test† same day or within 24 hours prior to return OR
10 days without a viral test |
No work restrictions, with prioritization considerations (e.g., asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic)‡ |
| Unvaccinated OR incompletely vaccinated OR received all primary series doses and is booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose | 7 days* with negative diagnostic test† same day or within 24 hours prior to return OR 10 days without a viral test |
No work restrictions, with prioritization considerations (e.g., asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic)‡ |
*Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic with improving symptoms, and meeting negative test criteria; facilities should refer to CDC guidance for HCP with severe to critical illness or moderately to severely immunocompromised.
† Either an antigen test or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) can be used. Some people may be beyond the period of expected infectiousness but remain NAAT positive for an extended period. Antigen tests typically have a more rapid turnaround time but are often less sensitive than NAAT. Antigen testing is preferred for discontinuation of isolation and return-to-work for SARS-CoV-2 infected HCP and for HCP who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 90 days; NAAT is also acceptable if done and negative within 48h of return.
‡ EMS personnel whose most recent test is positive and are working before meeting routine return-to-work criteria should maintain separation from other EMS personnel as much as possible (for example, use a separate breakroom and restroom) and wear a N95 respirator for source control at all times while working. In addition, EMS provider agencies should make N95 respirators available to any EMS personnel who wishes to wear one when not otherwise required for the care of patients or residents with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
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Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
