Coronavirus Update 7-8-2020: A tale of two mask orders

Yesterday, Ohio announced that face coverings will be required at all times when out in public in seven surging counties—Butler, Franklin, Hamilton, Huron, Montgomery, Trumbull, and my county, Cuyahoga. The mandate applies as long as a county remains designated a Red Alert Level 3 Public Health Emergency county per the state's new tiered Public Health Advisory System, and requires facial coverings: 

• In any outdoor public space when a person is unable to maintain physical separation of not less than six feet from others who are not members of the person's household.
• In any indoor space open and accessible to the public, including while waiting in line to enter such indoor space.
• Inside any public transportation and any ride-share vehicle when it is not possible to maintain physical separation of not less than six feet from others who are not members of the person's household.

Ohio's mandate takes effect at 6 p.m. today.

Similarly yesterday, Cuyahoga County proposed its own rule that would also require people to wear face coverings in the same places, regardless of whether the county is designated Red Alert Level 3.

That, however, is where the similarities end.

Coronavirus Update 7-7-2020: Do you know the difference between quarantine and isolation?

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we've heard the words "quarantine" and "isolation" used a lot. While a thesaurus might list them as synonymous, in this context they are not. 

According to the CDC, quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others and helps prevent the spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick; isolation separates people who are infected with the virus from people who are not infected.

Because these terms serve different purposes during this pandemic, these also have different recommended courses of action.

Coronavirus Update 7-6-2020: Telsa fires workers for staying home after giving them permission to stay home … and after they complain about safety

"Carlos, there is no need to feel that you are going to lose your job. If at this time you do not feel comfortable returning to work, you can stay home without penalty and take the time unpaid."

That email, sent from Tesla's acting human resources director to a now terminated employee, will be central to that employee's wrongful termination lawsuit pending against the automaker.

Coronavirus Update 7-2-2020: Employee claims his remote-work request got him fired, sues

An employee suffers from high blood pressure and lives with his 81-year-old mother. He's an engineer and began working from home for his employer in mid-March when his state shut down non-essential businesses. His employer, however, remained open, and several weeks later required him to return to in-person work in the office. He refused, requesting continued work from home. The company refused that request and fired him for job abandonment. The employee sued for disability discrimination.

Coronavirus Update 7–1–2020: THIS is how you protect your employees

Mootown Creamery is an ice cream shop in my town. Consistent with Ohio's reopening rules, it requires its employees to wear masks while working. For the protection of her employees and customers, its owner also decided to require customers to wear masks while in the store.

Some, however, have been less than receptive to the mask requirement. Worse, they have taken their anger and frustration out on the store's teenage workers. 

Coronavirus Update 6–30–2020: CDC now recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public

Your cloth face covering may protect them. Their cloth face covering may protect you.

As COVID-19 cases spike nationwide, and the CDC warns that we have "way too much virus" to control the pandemic, that same agency just released new guidance recommending that people wear cloth face coverings when in public. 

Coronavirus Update 6–29–2020: Judge hands McDonald’s a whopper of a rebuke for its COVID-19 response

A month ago I reported on a novel lawsuit filed against McDonald's Corporation in which the plaintiffs sought to have the fast-food conglomerate's alleged failure to comply with health guidance and provide PPE to its employees declared a public nuisance.

Last week, the judge granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction, concluding that they were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims. In so ruling, he concluded that the company fell short in its obligation to keep safe its employees and its customers.