The impact of COVID continues to worsen in our community and in our Department. The Delta variant is much more easily transmissible than prior variants and is now the predominant variant present in our community.
The Issues:
- We have had 16 staff test positive for Covid in the past four weeks (some were not in the workplace as they were on leave).
- Those who were in close contact with these employees who are not vaccinated have to quarantine for 10 days, even if they are asymptomatic. This has occurred with four staff so far.
- The case rate in our County is rising and we have every reason to expect that the case rate will continue to rise – further impacting our staffing levels not only in terms of positive employees but also those who have to quarantine because they had a close contact and are unvaccinated (and those who are vaccinated and develop symptoms and have to quarantine).
- We have an urgent need to take additional steps to lessen the impact of COVID within our workplace so that fewer people become ill and fewer people are required to be excluded from the workplace, and must do what we can to that end.
- Effective immediately, we are returning to the social distancing (6 feet or more) protocols we had in place several months ago.
- Effective immediately, no individual is to have close contact (within 6 feet) of another specific person for more than 14 minutes in total in any 24 hour period.
- Effective immediately, the break room tables and chairs are off limits. Eating and drinking is only allowed at your assigned work station.
- Effective immediately, no in person meetings will be held unless the space allows for 6 feet between participants.