The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has decided to end its rulemaking process concerning COVID-19 exposure in healthcare settings. Originally, OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in 2021 to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19, but with the COVID-19 public health emergency over, OSHA believes a standard focusing on broader infectious diseases is more appropriate for long-term worker protection. Instead of finalizing a separate COVID-19 regulation, OSHA will concentrate resources on creating comprehensive rules addressing various infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to better safeguard healthcare workers.
Simple Explanation
OSHA, the group that keeps workers safe, decided to stop making special rules just for COVID-19 in hospitals because it thinks having rules for all kinds of germs would be better. They want to make sure everyone stays healthy from different germs, not just COVID-19.