We’re lucky to be able to work from home while we’re social distancing. This is why we’re urging the federal government to provide COVID-19 testing resources to essential workers who can’t work from home, particularly those in the health care sector.
Social distancing works. As of April 1, 55 states and territories had some closures of non-essential business, and 28 have prohibited in-person workforces for non-essential businesses. And there are signs it’s flattening the curve.
But the most essential workers cannot work from home. Doctors, nurses, emergency responders, grocery store workers, farmers, meat inspectors, postal workers and couriers, truck drivers—they still go to the workplace every day, putting themselves and their families at risk, so the rest of us can #stayhome.
These people should be prioritized for testing resources. “Increased access to COVID-19 testing for our workforce will help flatten the curve by removing people with coronavirus from the workplace and better ensure the safety and health of employees who are maintaining operations during this pandemic,” we said in a multi-industry letter to Vice President Mike Pence.
Why it matters: “We have a responsibility to ensure that they can perform their work in a safe environment, and access to testing would help us do so. We are especially concerned by reports that as many as 25% of people infected with COVID-19 may not show any symptoms but can still spread the disease,” the letter continued.
BIO’s also supporting our local community. We’re donating to the Capital Area Food Bank, which provides healthy, fresh food to Washington area families, to do our part to help our neighbors during the crisis.
For more information on the Capital Area Food Bank, visit capitalareafoodbank.org.
More Agriculture & Environment News:
Biomass Magazine: EPA releases proposal to streamline existing fuels regulations
“Regarding the [Renewable Fuel Standard], the rulemaking proposes some slight modifications in subpart M of part 80. The agency said these changes are primarily for administrative purposes that follow from the proposed changes to its other fuel programs.”
Nature: Bats are a key source of human viruses—but they’re not special
“Statistical analyses suggest that surveillance efforts for the next pandemic look beyond the flying mammals.”
