Is the Pandemic over in the United States? According to Dr. Fauci, it is.
This announcement comes as a shock to many, and we would be remiss to tell you that it’s not a shock to us. On Wednesday, April 27th Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that while COVID isn’t gone - per se - the number of cases and deaths are just low enough for it to not be considered a pandemic anymore. We are effectively, with some exceptions, going back to a pre-COVID normal.
So, should you still be as cautious when going about your daily life, and traveling domestically? If you’re based in the U.S., you no longer have to wear a mask in most indoor spaces. For the majority of U.S. airlines, any passengers traveling domestically aren’t required to wear a mask. If you’re traveling outside of the country, however, it’s important to double-check the mask mandates at your local airport, as well as with any countries you are flying in and out of.
This news is excellent for most business owners as the PPE equipment required for the last few years has been a drain on business expenses. It is, of course up to your discretion to continue to require masks of your patrons and employees, but you should know it’s no longer required. You may want to consider holding the mask mandate in your workspace if your employees or clients regularly travel internationally. Any additional manpower required, and money toward PPE can be redirected to marketing efforts.
If you’re a frequent traveler yourself, or your business relies heavily on imports from other countries, prepare for their mandates to adjust or stay the same. There are still countries experiencing high rates of COVID, and as such, their economy is still being heavily affected by the pandemic still very much alive outside of the United States. Rates of infection have gone down significantly, but this is subject to change. Don’t discard your COVID screens just yet. It could be useful later, or in the event of another outbreak.
We suggest a few things to businesses with brick and mortar locations:
Determine whether you will keep your mask mandate and what the laws are in your local municipality
Maintain your stores of PPE for future events
Begin forming strategic partnerships with countries that have done a thorough job of lowering their rates of infection
Rework your finances to plan for extra revenue that will stem from the decreased use of PPE
If your business does importing or is involved with international trade, and you need legal guidance on how to proceed in this time of massive change within the global economy, give us a call for a FREE consultation to see how we can help you navigate the changing business landscape.
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Source: CNN Health