Now emerging in Texas, COVID-19 is disrupting our plans again, leading many companies to delay their return to a new normal.
One month after Texas announced Phase 2 of the reopening of the economy and a few weeks after Phase 3 began, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has steadily increased to more than 100,000. Hospitalizations are also reaching new highs, and that metric cannot be attributed to simply doing more tests.
These trends, combined with other risks, cause many employers to modify their schedules to bring workers back to the office.
"You say they will stay home longer because their younger employees have been going to bars," said Angela Farley, director of operations for the Dallas Regional Chamber. That executive "did not want their older workers interacting with them, so they would stay home until the case count drops."
Recent protests over police violence became another reason to hesitate, at least to return to downtown Dallas.
"All of this has caused people to pause if they can, and go back to a later date," Farley said, adding that members of the chamber have been sharing their best practices for a responsible return to work.
About 10 million American workers are over the age of 65, making them more vulnerable. Nearly 28 million workers have conditions associated with poorer COVID-19 outcomes, including diabetes, heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and limitations due to cancer, according to the study.
Another 12 million are at risk because they live with workers who could bring the disease home.
With so many vulnerable, "there will be a continuing tension between the economic pressures facing families and businesses and the health and safety of millions of people," wrote Gary Claxton and several others from Kaiser.
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