As the three-year COVID-19 pandemic mark approaches, it's understandable that some companies may be eager to ditch their early pandemic policies and get back to a 2019-era style mindset. Weekly case counts have largely stagnated since the last spike in January 2022, when they reached 5.6 million nationally, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, it looks like another COVID winter is approaching, and experts are worried that businesses are letting their guard down. In the past two weeks, reported cases have increased by 53 percent and hospitalizations by 31 percent, according to the CDC. Virus levels in wastewater, which can provide an advance warning of spread, are also increasing. And to make things worse, amid a holiday season in full swing, a surge of other respiratory viruses is also sweeping the country, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
That's why many people, especially those who are immuno-compromised or dealing with symptoms related to long COVID, are still concerned about the overall threat of these viruses. If policies are allowed to lapse, employees could be at risk, and companies subject to staffing shortages. Business owners could also face claims of gross negligence deriving from a lack of health and safety procedures.
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