OSHA terminates COVID-19 in healthcare rulemaking

Effective January 15, OSHA terminated its COVID-19 in healthcare rulemaking. The agency says it will now focus on completing its Infectious Diseases rulemaking for healthcare, which will protect workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19, as well as other infectious diseases.

In June 2021, OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect workers from COVID-19 in healthcare settings. The ETS also served as a proposed rule with public comment periods. OSHA held public hearings on the proposal from June 2021 through May 2022, and submitted a draft final rule to the Office of Management and Budget in December 2022. In April 2023, the White House terminated the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.