COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Orders

• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-13) allowing certain staff to possess and administer prepacked medications in those community programs registered with the Department of Public Health’s Medication Administration Program (issued April 29, 2022)
  • ​​​​​​​This order supersedes Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-07)  (issued January 18, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-12) regarding first responder training for members of the Massachusetts National Guard (issued March 25, 2022)
  • This order supersedes Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-18)  (issued December 24, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-11) regarding intensive care unit nurse staffing requirements (February 16, 2022)
  • This order rescinds the Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-16) (issued December 10, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-10) regarding non-essential, non-urgent scheduled procedures (February 4, 2022)
  • This order replaces the Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-14) (issued November 23, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-09) authorizing expedited licensure of out of state physicians and certain retired physicians (issued January 27, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-08) regarding medication administration in Houses of Correction and Department of Correction facilities (issued January 21, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-06) authorizing a statewide standing order for the purchase of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests (issued January 14, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-05) regarding expedited credentialing and transfers of licensed staff across health care facilities (issued January 14, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-04) regarding expedited licensure of certain individuals eligible for physician licensure (issued January 14, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-03) regarding out-of-hospital dialysis staffing (issued January 14, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-02) regarding unsupervised practice by physician assistants (issued January 14, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2022-01) regarding the requirement for certain personnel to receive a booster vaccination dose against COVID-19 (issued January 6, 2022)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-17) regarding skilled nursing care in Assisted Living Residences (issued December 14, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-15) regarding use of rescue inhalers and epinephrine autoinjectors in community programs (issued December 2, 2021)
  • This order replaces the Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-8) (issued September 15, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-13) extending authorization for the issuance of temporary licenses for certain providers, and renewal or reactivation of certain temporary licenses (issued November 12, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-12) authorizing and expediting licensure for certain graduates of international medical schools (issued November 12, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-11) authorizing certain access to the Massachusetts Immunization Information System to specific entities (issued October 16, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-10) authorizing certain access to the Massachusetts Immunization Information System to specific entities (issued October 11, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-9) regarding COVID-19 testing for certain authorized entities (issued September 20, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-7) authorizing certain access to the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (issued September 2, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-6) authorizing issuance of temporary licenses for certain providers, and renewal or reactivation of certain temporary licenses (issued August 26, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-5) extending certain licenses pursuant to an April 3, 2020 Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (issued August 20, 2021)

• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-4) regarding the requirement for nursing home personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (issued August 4, 2021)

• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-3) regarding COVID-19 vaccine possession and storage in long-term care facilities and certified assisted living residences (issued July 30, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-2) Related to Community Health Worker Qualifications (issued June 30, 2021)
• Reissuance of Certain Public Health Orders (COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order No. 2021-1) (issued June 14, 2021) reissues 14 public health orders under Governor Baker’s May 28, 2021 modified public health emergency under the public health statute, to extend the following public health measures:

1. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Providing for Continuity of Emergency Medical Services Care
2. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health: Rescue Inhalers, Epinephrine AutoInjectors and Oxygen in Community Programs
3. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health regarding authorization for skilled nursing care and staffing updates in assisted living facilities
4. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health regarding pharmacy assistance teams for individuals in medical shelters or quarantine
5. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health regarding COVID-19 data reporting
6. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health to Waive Timeframe for Certified Nurse Aide Training
7. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Prohibiting Billing Uninsured Individuals for COVID-19 Testing
8. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Control of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities
9. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health CLIA-Waived COVID-19 Testing in Congregate Care Sites
10. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Temporary Laboratory Licenses for COVID-19 Testing
11. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Reporting to the Massachusetts Immunization Information System
12. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Access to Certain Immunization Information for Insurance Carriers and MassHealth
13. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Authorizing Additional Individuals to Administer COVID-19 Vaccinations
14. Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding Face Coverings to be Worn in Certain Settings

• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Extending the Authorization for Nursing Practice by Graduates and Senior Nursing Students of Nursing Education Programs (issued June 14, 2021)
• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Rescinding Order Extending Validity of Temporary Licenses to September 15, 2021 (issued June 14, 2021)

Relevant guidance to implement the Orders issued June 14, 2021 can be found on COVID-19 Public Health Guidance and Directives.

Additional Resources

Archive of rescinded/lapsed COVID-19 State of Emergency orders and guidance

COVID-19 Public Health Guidance and Directives