I am typically always for health and safety standardization in workplaces as it makes it easier to enforce. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a problem that not even our own government can handle, let alone under-resourced and understaffed workplaces. It is very difficult to control individual behaviors and this Standard holds employers responsible for what employees do outside of the workplace. Particularly referring to reporting of positive cases to the VDH/VDOLI then having to spend time proving that the exposure did not happen at the workplace. We do not have epidemiologists, medical professionals, or public health advocates on staff. We have made every effort to comply with a disease that can even be transmitted while wearing masks, making it difficult to convince employees of its usefulness. 

The Standard was great at the start of the pandemic when direction in this area was needed. However, it has been two years with no end in sight and with constant changes in preventive/control measures. At this time, employers should be allowed to decide how best to protect their employees. Revoke the VDOLI COVID-19 Standard.