NYSDOH Aligns Healthcare Personnel Respiratory Virus Guidance with CDC Recommendations; Educational Webinar Scheduled
(October 20, 2026) The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) recently issued the advisory Managing Healthcare Personnel Viral Respiratory Illness/Exposure Return to Work, aligning New York's recommendations with updated CDC guidance for healthcare personnel (HCP) exposed to or infected with viral respiratory illnesses. The updated guidance provides a more practical and streamlined approach to work restrictions and return-to-work criteria for healthcare workers recovering from COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections.
The recommendations apply to local health departments, hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, hospice providers, and diagnostic and treatment centers, including home care and hospice personnel providing services in long-term care facilities and adult care facilities. The guidance addresses respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, and other viral respiratory pathogens.
The advisory replaces the department's 2022 guidance and adopts current CDC recommendations related to infection control, work restrictions, exclusion from work, and return-to-work criteria for healthcare personnel. It also recognizes that providers may need flexibility during staffing shortages and outlines considerations for implementing shorter exclusion periods while maintaining resident and patient safety. Factors to consider include the presence of fever or more severe illness, symptoms that may increase infectiousness, laboratory testing results, the population being served, and the employee's ability to consistently follow source control measures.
LeadingAge NY has advocated for greater flexibility in these requirements for several years and welcomes this alignment with current CDC recommendations. More information on reminders of various respiratory guidance and requirements for various member types can be found here.
To help providers prepare for the upcoming respiratory virus season, NYSDOH is hosting "What's New with the Flu? COVID and RSV Too!" on October 29, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The webinar will provide updates on influenza, COVID-19, and RSV activity, review the new healthcare personnel guidance, and discuss practical considerations for managing staff exposures, work restrictions, and return-to-work decisions. You can register here.
Contact: Carrie Mosley, cmosley@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 x. 147