On July 15, 2020, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board adopted § 16 VAC 25-220, Emergency Temporary Standard, Infectious Disease Prevention: SARS-CoV-2 Virus that Causes COVID-19 (ETS). At the direction of the Governor, Virginia became the first state in the nation to adopt an enforceable regulatory mandate regarding COVID-19 safety measures in the workplace. In accordance with Va. Code § 40.1-22(6a), the Emergency Temporary Standard will take effect and become enforceable upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation, in the City of Richmond, VA. This is expected to take place the week of July 27, 2020.
The Town of Purcellville is dedicated to ensuring our staff are fully protected, can remain healthy, and able to return to their families each day. Staff has been working with the Town of Purcellville’s municipal insurance carrier, Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) to identify next steps for the Town to comply with the ETS. While the official final version of the ETS will not be available until it is published in a Richmond newspaper, the July 15, 2020 version available for review (Attachment 1).
The ETS is temporary in nature, set to expire within six (6) months of the effective date, upon expiration of the Governor’s State of Emergency, when superseded by a permanent standard, or when repealed by the VA Safety and Health Code Board, whichever comes first.
The Town has taken steps to mitigate employee exposure through actions initiated at the onset of the emergency declaration. The ETS requires the Town to memorialize those actions, as well as additional guidance, into a formal plan. Additionally, within the next 30 days, the Town will conduct mandatory training for all employees on both the ETS and the Town’s COVID-19 and Infectious Disease Prevention Plan.
To ensure compliance with the ETS, VRSA has recommended the Town of Purcellville formally adopt the attached COVID-19 and Infectious Disease Prevention Plan (Plan) (Attachment 2) on, or as close thereto as possible, the formal adoption date of the ETS. This policy sets forth the measures the Town will utilize to ensure the best possible outcome during this pandemic.
While the Town has remained committed to the execution and commitment of COVID-19 policies based on the CDC guidelines, the adoption and ultimate execution of this Plan will serve to further strengthen the Town’s commitment to compliance with the newly adopted ETS.