Coronavirus Update 7-16-2020: A letter to Ohio — we’re all in this together; let’s all start acting like it

To my fellow Ohioans,

Last evening, Governor DeWine scolded many of you for not doing your part in helping to stop the spread of coronavirus. I took it as a warning; if we don't start acting responsibly, he will have no choice but to mandate masks and even shut down parts of the state. If that happens, we will have no one else to blame but ourselves (or at least some of us).

For anyone who has refused to wear a mask in public, this is your fault.

Coronavirus Update 7-15-2020: OSHA updates its mealy-mouthed facial covering FAQs (again)

OSHA has, yet again, updated its Frequently Asked Questions to advise employers about the use of face masks in the workplace during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

What does OSHA now recommend?

Coronavirus Update 7-14-2020: Should employers be testing employees for COVID-19?

Fortune magazine asks: "Why some companies are screening employees for COVID-19, while others have opted out?" This is a legitimate question. 

Let's start with the law. Does the law (in this case, the ADA) permit an employer to test employees for COVID-19? Yes, an employer absolutely may administer a COVID-19 test before permitting employees to enter the workplace. 

Coronavirus Update 7-13-2020: Hopelessness

Today's post was either going to discuss mandatory temperature checks for employees or reopening schools. Instead, however, today will be a mental health checkup, because mine hasn't been great.

Coronavirus Update 7-9-2020: The 6th nominee for the “worst employer of 2020” is … the working mom sacker

Let this woman's Instagram post sink in, and then let’s talk about why it's wrong to fire a mom working from home (allegedly) because she has to spend some time tending to her children.

View this post on Instagram

| 28 days ago I finally had enough of the 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 that my boss was giving me for him not being okay with hearing my kids in the background on calls.|😭😡😖💔 . He wanted me to figure out a way to keep the kids quiet 😣. I went to Human Resources with proof of what was going for the last 3 months and 7 days later AFTER that 𝗜 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱!!!! 😭 They told me that I should be happy that the outcome to my career there could have been worse. I’m crying as I type this...😭 I was told I had a bright future. That I was doing very well in my position! 💔💔💔😭💔😭 . The last 3 months I have worked around the clock from home while watching my two toddlers😭. I have met all the deadlines they have asked me for, even the unrealistic ones. The situation that I had endured the last 3 months is beyond stressful😭. How does a company that says that they understand and will work around the schedule of parents do the complete opposite with their actions? 😭 I’m devastated. I have poured hours, tears, sweats, delayed giving my child a snack when he wanted one because my boss needed me to do something right away. And what did I get in return? 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗!!! 😭😭😭😭😭 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 . They can keep the 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗵 money they offered to not bring this up🚫🛑✋! No working mother should be discriminated against , especially during these times for not being able to keep my 𝟭 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 for a business call 😡For not being able to turn something around in 5 minutes when my baby wants a snack😡. We are in tough times right now. This situation would have been temporary. None of my clients had issues with my kids in the background. 𝗜'𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 ! 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗸𝗮𝘆!!!💪. IT’S NOT OKAY to have to feel that your boss is making you pick your work over your kids during these times!!!𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗢𝗞𝗔𝗬!!! #justice

A post shared by Hi, I'm 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘀| MODERN CALI MOM (@moderncalimom) on Jun 23, 2020 at 5:13pm PDT

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.