The constant revising and updating of CDC policies has been a harsh reality for so many companies and employees during the pandemic.

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"When restrictions were loosened in June we started our current return to the office which has been in effect for quite a while," Anne O'Neill, VP Chief Risk Officer for Independent Health, said.

Independent Health according to WKBW-TV says employees can come to the office if they desire, or can continue working from home if they choose. Vaccinated employees presently do not have to wear a mask but as cases continue to rise in New York State, that could change.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz also recently stated...Per CDC guidance, if a locality enters the “Substantial Risk of Transmission” category, it is recommended even that fully vaccinated people wear face masks in public indoor settings and continue to recommend that unvaccinated individuals wear masks in public indoor settings as well.

"The bigger challenge is now that people have had that freedom, naturally to go back on that if it ever became necessary would be challenging not only with Independent Health, but the community at large," O'Neill said.

Independent Health has started doing what they call "pulse checks", no it is  NOT a medical evaluation.  It is basically the process of seeing what employees like and don't like about the current COVID-return to work protocols. Information gathered from these checks could be used to help determine how the company moves forward dealing with the current state of the pandemic and the Delta variant.

In May, the Governor signed into law the NY HERO Act, which helps to protect employees against airborne diseases by requiring companies to have a plan in place to keep their employees safe.

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