US labor regulators will no longer track COVID-19 risk for healthcare workers

The US Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is ending its special rules for COVID-19 in healthcare. This means hospitals and clinics no longer have to follow specific federal guidelines to protect workers from the virus.

For three years, healthcare employers had to follow specific federal rules to protect their workers from COVID-19. These rules covered things like masks, ventilation, and social distancing. Now, those specific federal requirements are gone, and employers will revert to general workplace safety standards.