On Fridays, USDA continues to share the CDC’s COVID-19 community levels to guide masking protocols for the following week. This week, 2,827 counties are LOW, 318 counties are MEDIUM, and 79 counties are HIGH. The CDC COVID Community Levels and masking protocols for the week of Sunday, May 8, through Saturday, May 14, are here.  

For additional information see the latest versions of the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Guidance on masking, the USDA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan, and our Frequently Asked Questions on USDA’s Response to COVID-19 Workplace Safety.

This week, we have included two COVID-19 related questions and one “tip of the week” related to the return to the physical workplace. National Capital Region employees (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) should also take note of the Metro transportation memorandum regarding improvements and construction to the rail system.

1. What are the latest CDC recommendations on domestic travel that USDA employees should follow?

On May 3, CDC updated its recommendations on domestic travel. Before traveling, employees should review the latest information.

The CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in all indoor public transportation settings. Wearing masks is most beneficial in crowded or poorly ventilated locations. When people wear a well-fitting mask or respirator over their nose and mouth in indoor travel or public transportation settings, they protect themselves, and those around them, including those who are immunocompromised or not yet vaccine-eligible, and help keep travel and public transportation safer for everyone.

2. As USDA continues its return to the physical workplace, are there any restrictions on work-related travel?

Travel restrictions have been lifted for domestic travel to counties within the United States and its territories with a LOW or MEDIUM COVID-19 Community Level. However, only mission critical travel is permissible to counties with a HIGH COVID-19 Community Level in order to protect employee health and safety. Managers must assess whether travel to a county with a HIGH COVID-19 Community Level meets the mission critical requirements. Mission critical refers to activities necessary for the ongoing operation of the Department and its programs which cannot be performed remotely.

In counties where the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH, any meeting, conference or event that is attended by more than 50 in-person participants requires approval by the agency head, in consultation with USDA’s COVID Safety Team. This approval process only applies for agency hosted events and includes both indoor and outdoor events. Any meeting, conference or event can be submitted for approval to sradvisorcovid@usda.gov.

In-person attendees at any meeting, conference or event hosted by USDA in a county with a HIGH COVID-19 Community Level must wear a mask in public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status.

3. Many employees started at USDA during the pandemic and will be coming to their physical workplace for the first time. Here are a few ideas on welcoming new employees to the physical workplace:

• Develop a welcome packet that includes information on the facility or office layout, food service options, emergency management procedures, parking, office supply location and other helpful tips. 
• Schedule facility tours as employees return to the physical workplace. 
• Make sure workspaces are clean and set up for network connectivity.
• Consider scheduling fewer meetings the first days and week employees are returning to the physical workplace so that employees have time to set up their space. 
• Ensure basic office supplies are available.

The Big Three: Part 16

To the extent this policy may constitute a change in a condition of employment for bargaining unit employees, agencies/offices will implement it in accordance with the terms of their current labor agreement and 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71. If you are a bargaining unit employee and have questions regarding the content of this message and its potential impact on a current labor agreement, please refer them to your local union representative.