As COVID-19 cases begun to tick up in regions in the northeast, Mb Staffing Services, LLC continues to monitor news that affects our clients and employees locally near Washington, D.C.
As hospitalization rates remains steadily at record low levels, the Omicron subvariant BA.2 continues to impact communities of the unvaccinated population making up 86% of new COVID cases as of last week. Regionally, the US is now recording an estimate of 38,000 new cases daily across the nation, leading a 24% increase of COVID cases in comparison to two weeks ago. Cases are rising in 25 states, only slightly though in the metropolitan area of Washington, DC.
As of the week of April 10, 2022, to April 16, 2022, Washington is averaging 198 new cases daily, a 38 percent increase from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 6 residents have been infected, averaging a total of nearly 140,000 new cases. Although the number of hospitalized patients is at a steadfast, vaccinations are still the bellwether of change to living in a post-pandemic world. Of the 1.5 million vaccinated residents, 73.9 percent are fully vaccinated and nearly 97% received at least one dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. District government has reinstated the mask mandate for all DC residents. The mandate begun on April 14,2022 prompting all employees and visitors of district government offices, District of Columbia Public Libraries, and facilities and programming sites of the Department of Aging and Community living to wear masks.
Vaccines are over 90% effective against the spread of COVID-19, most popularly effective for residents who received a booster shot. As news about a second booster for all adults 50 and older continues to circulate, a second booster would be a stronger barrier against transmission since COVID fatally impacts older adults. 90% of all adults 65 years and over are fully vaccinated.
Mb Staffing Services continues to prioritize the reduction to the spread of COVID-19 and Omicron subvariant BA.2. We developed effective strategies to reduce the impact of COVID-19 amongst our clients and employees, including policies, procedures, and preventive measures aligned with certain safety protocols regulated by DC health officials. We’ve widened our COVID-19 requirements of vaccination status for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated employees and prioritized practicing respiratory etiquette, proper hand hygiene, and wearing protective masks as required when visiting our office location.
Nearly two years since the start of global lockdowns, we continue to keep focused on helping our employees and clients by making it easier to ensure a strong urgency to safety and health concerns. Mb Staffing will ensure this by managing the safety protocols that puts our clients at peace of mind and our employees safely protected against COVID.