Here is the next installment of the “Big Three” questions we are hearing from you. On Fridays, USDA will share the CDC’s COVID-19 community levels to guide masking protocols for the following week.

The CDC COVID Community Levels and masking protocols for the week of Sunday, March 27, through Saturday, April 2, are here. The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Guidance on masking can be found here.

As always, please continue to check our FAQs and the USDA Workplace Safety Plan, which are updated frequently, and reach out to futureofwork@usda.gov for any questions not already addressed.

Sincerely,

The Future of Work Taskforce

1. What do we know about the Omicron BA.2 variant?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the subvariant of Omicron known as BA.2 now accounts for more than one-third of cases (more than half of the cases in the Northeast U.S.). This variant has been shown to be more transmissible than any previous variant, but vaccinations are still providing protection against severe illness and death. Cases of the BA.2 variant are currently rising in parts of Europe and Asia. We will continue to monitor patterns of infection in the U. S. in the weeks ahead.

2. As supervisors and employees begin returning to the physical workplace, what should they know about cleaning and disinfection?

USDA follows CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfection. CDC guidance indicates that routine cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on surfaces and help maintain a healthy facility. 

3. Should in-person attendees at meetings, conferences and events hosted by a USDA agency or office be asked to provide information about vaccination status?

It depends. For meetings, conferences and events hosted by a USDA agency or office at a facility in a county where the COVID-19 Community Level is MEDIUM or HIGH, all in-person attendees should be asked to provide information about their vaccination status. For these meetings, conferences and events, in-person attendees who are not fully vaccinated or decline to provide information about their vaccination status should provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed within the previous 3 days and comply with relevant safety protocols, consistent with their vaccination status. USDA will comply with any applicable federal laws, including requirements under the Privacy Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The Big Three: Part 10

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.