09/10/2026

CDC Expected to Update COVID-19 Infection Control Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing to update COVID-19 guidance for health care settings, with changes expected to address return-to-work recommendations for health care personnel, outdated staffing-shortage guidance and infection control practices. The revisions could affect how aging-services providers manage staff illness and workplace restrictions.

What You Need To Know

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to release updated COVID-19 infection control guidance in the coming days, including revised recommendations for when health care personnel can return to work following an infection.
• The revisions are expected to align with recommendations approved by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee in November 2024.
• If implemented, the changes would allow health care personnel to return to work sooner than under current CDC return-to-work guidance, which generally restricts infected staff from working for at least seven days.
• CDC also plans to remove outdated guidance related to mitigating health care staffing shortages and infection control recommendations for the general public.

What Happens Next

• Updated clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination for the 2026-27 respiratory illness season are also expected.
• LeadingAge National has advocated for updated CDC guidance that better reflects current understanding of COVID-19 and the operational needs of aging-services providers.
• LeadingAge will continue monitoring CDC action and provide additional information as the recommendations are released.

What to Do

• Continue following existing CDC infection control and return-to-work guidance until updated recommendations are issued.
• Watch for LeadingAge Ohio updates on any changes affecting staffing, infection prevention policies or return-to-work procedures.
• Review LeadingAge National’s original update on the expected CDC changes for additional background.