Businesses already are responding to the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant.
The Delta variant, which is much more contagious, is now the most common strain of the virus in the U.S., accounting for 83% of infections as of early August.
New cases were skyrocketing through largely unvaccinated pockets, and in some cases like Florida. The virus was sending young adults to the hospital at rates not seen throughout the length of the pandemic. At the end of July, the U.S. was reporting a seven-day case rate of 153 per 100,000 – the highest rate since February. So, how are businesses responding?
1. Some are delaying a return to offices or considering it. Others are reducing business travel to limit outbreaks.
Apple had planned for employees to return to offices after Labor Day. The date has been extended to October because of the Delta variant. Other big companies may be staying with their plans for employees to come back to offices, but they are monitoring the situation. Some companies are reducing travel or business event exposure. This limits exposure in mass gatherings and travel scenarios.
2. Masks and new social distancing restrictions are returning – regardless of vaccination status.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new guidance in late July. It recommended vaccinated individuals in certain parts of the country wear masks again indoors. Many businesses are likely to follow the CDC guidance, if they haven’t already changed their policies recently.
Suppliers of masks already were beginning to experience increased demand, so look into getting masks as quickly as possible. In addition, some experts are advising the use of high-quality masks, such as the N95 or KN95 mask, over cloth masks for most workers who interact with the public.
Some companies are working to spread out workers more and improve distance between workstations. Others are taking more precautions when it comes to employees mingling during work breaks.
3. Mandatory vaccination policies are increasing.
Many businesses have been hesitant to require vaccination as a condition of employment due to legal concerns and pushback from workers. However, some are now adopting policies of mandatory vaccination because of major health concerns and pressure from officials. This is especially true for government or health care settings.
One concern that has arisen is that the Delta variant is infecting and being spread by those who have received a coronavirus vaccine. The CDC recently stated, “The Delta variant is highly contagious, nearly twice as contagious as previous variants…Unvaccinated people remain the greatest concern: Although breakthrough infections happen much less often than infections in unvaccinated people, individuals infected with the Delta variant, including fully vaccinated people with symptomatic breakthrough infections, can transmit it to others. CDC is continuing to assess data on whether fully vaccinated people with asymptomatic breakthrough infections can transmit. However, the greatest risk of transmission is among unvaccinated people who are much more likely to contract, and therefore transmit the virus.”
4.) Early detection and treatment can prevent hospitalization and acute cases of COVID-19
One of the popular treatment methods for someone who becomes sick with COVID-19 is monoclonal antibodies (mAb). If you test positive and get to the disease in the first 10 days of symptoms, these treatments are working to reduce the amount of virus in a person’s system. Having a lower viral load means someone may have milder symptoms thereby decreasing the likelihood of the person being hospitalized.
That’s why it is important to get tested when you think you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Once you get a positive test, you can contact your health care provider to see if you qualify for mAb treatment.
Antibodies are proteins that exist in our bodies as part of our immune system to recognize and defend against harmful viruses and bacteria. Monoclonal antibodies are engineered to target a specific virus or bacteria. They attach to the virus and block it from entering human cells. Also, the mAb protein helps your immune system identify which invasive viruses need to be removed from the body.
Beyond early detection for personal treatment, testing is critical to reduce workplace spread. It’s much better to be down one worker than to have to shut down the entire plant.
If someone tests positive but has not health care provider, you can call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585 for more assistance.
Beyond detection, if you test positive for COVID-19, it is important to monitor blood oxygen levels to ensure that your condition doesn’t worsen. There is a condition called silent hypoxia where people develop severe pneumonia without the usual telltale signs of shortness of breath. You can monitor blood oxygen levels using a simple device called a pulse oximeter. These can be bought for $20-60 at most drug stores. Normal ranges are 95% to 100% for a basic resting heart rate. Any sustained reading below 92% should be treated as a serious emergency requiring immediate medical attention.
