COVID-19 and the Workforce: July 2, 2021

TOP HEADLINES 

OSHA’s Updated Guidance for COVID-19 in Workplaces 
National Law Review – June 29, 2021 
When the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rolled out its COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard on June 10, 2021, it also issued its updated Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in non-healthcare workplaces. 

Weekly Jobless Claims Total Hits New Pandemic-Era Low of 364,000 
CNBC – July 1, 2021 
First-time jobless claims totaled 364,000 for the week ending June 26, compared with the 390,000 Dow Jones estimate. That marked a new pandemic-era low and a decline of 51,000 from the previous week. 

Employers May Relax COVID-19 Measures in Fully Vaccinated Workplaces, OSHA Says 
HR Dive – June 10, 2021 
OSHA’s updated guidance for all industries encourages employers to grant paid time off for employees to get vaccinated. Employers also should implement physical distancing for unvaccinated and other at-risk workers in communal work areas, including limiting the number of such workers in one place at any given time. 

What’s New from the CDC 
Keep up with all the latest information on COVID-19 directly from the resources created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

GLOBAL NEWS 

AUSTRALIA 
Australia COVID: Outbreaks Emerge Across Country in “New Phase” of Pandemic 
BBC – June 28, 2021  
The escalation in COVID infections has prompted lockdowns in the cities of Sydney and Darwin, as well as restrictions across four states. 

CANADA 
Over 30% of Eligible Canadians Fully Vaccinated as Daily Cases Fall Below 500 
Global News – June 28, 2021  
More than 30%of eligible Canadians aged 12 and over have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while the daily count for new cases on Monday fell below 500 for the first time since Labor Day of last year. 

INDIA 
With Eight Million Shots in a Day, India Tries to Energize its Vaccination Effort 
The New York Times – June 22, 2021 
India administered 8.6 million doses of COVID vaccines on Monday, setting a national record on the first day of a new policy that offers free vaccines for all adults and aims to energize a lackluster inoculation effort. 

UNITED KINGDOM 
The COVID Delta Variant has “Exploded” in the U.K. – and it Could be a Blueprint for the U.S. 
CNBC – June 28, 2021 
The U.K.’s initial response to COVID-19, immunization program and world-class research have all played a part in informing other countries how (and sometimes, how not) to deal with the pandemic. 

UNITED STATES 
Delta Variant Could Become Dominant Strain in U.S. This Summer, CDC Head Says 
The Washington Post – June 18, 2021 
The unusually contagious delta coronavirus variant, first found in India, could become the dominant strain in the United States this summer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky said Friday. 

POLAND 
Poland May Face Fourth Wave of Pandemic in Late August 
The First News – June 29, 2021 
Polish health minister has said that the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic may hit the country in the second half of August.