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 Practice News: COVID-19

NYDHA is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and actions of government and healthcare entities on a daily basis and advocating for NYS dental hygienists. 

NEW: The Governor has announced that 7 regions in NYS - Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, North Country, Central Region, Western NY, and Capital Region - have met the benchmarks designated by the state to begin certain phasing of reopening and other regions are nearing this point. However, dental services remain in the essential designation as emergency dental treatment only throughout the state - not for other dental services.

As these circmstances evolve NYDHA  continues to be in contact with and provide input to state officials in advocating for NYS dental hygienists and their patient care. NYDHA remains committed to updating you on these developments.

NEW: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated Guidance for Dental Settings with recommendations for resuming non- emergency dental care. Included: New information on facility and equipment considerations, sterilization and disinfection, and considerations for the use of test-based strategies to inform patient care; expanded recommendations on dental care for patients with and without COVID-19. Review the full guidance here: https://bit.ly/2xwDYQ4. [NY continues to designate dentistry as essential for emergency only.]

Click here for the slides and here for the recording (password 7e@*8!+&) to NYDHA's May 9 webinar on “COVID-19: What’s Next? An Informational Session for the Dental Hygienist.” 

ADHA has released its task force report: ADHA Interim Guidance on Return to Work. ADA's Advisory Task Force on Dental Practice Recovery has issued an interim toolkit.

ADHA has launched an advocacy campaign to ask governors to declare only emergency dental care until we can ensure it is safe to return and to alert governors of the need for and concerns regarding availability of appropriate PPE. Learn more

Governor Cuomo announced that schools and nonessential business will stay closed through May 15. Emergency dental has been designated as essential. Read more

Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order, effective April 17, requiring all people in NYS to wear a mask or a face covering when out in public and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, such as on public transportation. Read more 

NYS Labor Dept. has ‘what you need to know and do’ on how the U.S. CARES Act related to unemployment benefits

On March 27, the President signed the $2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress - CARES Act. Read about some of provisions that may be helpful to dental hygienists, See also IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief website

CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Dental Settings 

See also: NYS Health Dept., NYS Labor Dept., NYS emergency paid sick leave law

NYS Office of the Professions has presented continuing education provisions and other procedures in light of COVID-19

ADHA: ADHA resources, including Frequently Asked Questions; dedicated email for COVID-19 questions and concerns: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;

More resources: CDC, NIH, OSHA; New York State Dental Association; American Dental Association including ADA guidance on dental emergency and non-emergency care; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommendations on adult elective surgeries, non-essential dental procedures;