Le Lézard
Classified in: Health, Covid-19 virus
Subjects: NPT, PSF, AVO

National Safety Council and Partners Call for Coronavirus Tests for all U.S. Businesses and Worksites


ITASCA, Ill., April 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the National Safety Council and more than 50 partner organizations with employees at worksites across the country penned a letter to Vice President Mike Pence urging the federal government to provide COVID-19 testing resources to employers with workers engaged in essential business services. While priority for virus testing will rightly be given to the healthcare sector, NSC and its partners implore the federal government to remember many workplaces are still operating.

With about 25% of people who have coronavirus being asymptomatic, workers could be at risk for contracting COVID-19 without realizing it, and workplace access to testing should be a priority as testing supplies become more abundant.

"We cannot flatten the curve without protecting our nation's workers, many of whom have continued reporting to traditional worksites in the midst of this global pandemic, unable to work remotely," said Lorraine M. Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "We must protect these workers, and one of the best ways to do so is by conducting more tests. As soon as tests are widely available, we expect that our nation's employers will have access to them."

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced workplaces across the U.S. to close or limit operations to protect public health and safety. As of April 1, 55 states and territories had some closures of non-essential businesses,1 and 28 states and territories have prohibited in-person workforces for non-essential businesses.2 However, states and territories have deemed some businesses and sectors as "essential," and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued guidance on the essential critical infrastructure workforce.3 Employees engaged in critical and essential business are required to be at a physical worksite in some proximity to other employees and/or customers.

As the group writes in its letter, "a lack of easily accessible COVID-19 testing means that some of our employees may unknowingly be coming to work and spreading the disease to their co-workers and the public."

For more information about the NSC response to COVID-19, please visit nsc.org/coronavirus.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.

Connect with NSC:
Facebook 
Twitter 
LinkedIn 
YouTube

https://www.nga.org/coronavirus
2 Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma (in counties with reported community spread), Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
3 https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

SOURCE National Safety Council


These press releases may also interest you

at 15:17
Schools and colleges across the country rely on Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) evaluations to assess and manage student-athlete concussions on the sidelines. However, this FDA-cleared tool is not recommended for...

at 15:05
MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., ("MAIA", the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer, today announced that independent directors Cristian Luput and Ramiro Guerrero, J.D, LL.M. made individual...

at 15:05
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that Martine Rothblatt PhD, JD, MBA, Chairperson and CEO of United Therapeutics, and inventor of SiriusXM Satellite Radio, will deliver the keynote address...

at 15:00
Beghou Consulting announced Thursday several additions to its executive team to support the company's technology innovation, product development and growth initiatives. Dan Cardinal, a Partner at Beghou, will become Chief Technology Officer. The...

at 15:00
Urban Wellness Group, a pioneering wellness provider, is proud to announce its official launch of new anti-aging and sleep enhancement treatments to southeast Portland. Dr. Jason Zabell and Dr. Andy Swanson set themselves apart by pairing over 30...

at 14:55
Peninsula Canada, a global leading HR and health & safety firm, committed to making a positive impact in the community, is proud to announce a partnership with SickKids Foundation, a leading charity dedicated to supporting The Hospital for Sick...



News published on and distributed by: