I was thrilled to see the Emergency Temporary Standard and am equally so to see the Proposed Permanent Standard for 16VAC25-220, Infectious Disease Prevention: SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19.

As a worker in Virginia, who often works with many different people in a service capacity, I see the requirements of this standard as critical to keeping all of us safe: me, my family, my colleagues, my workplace, and my community.

Thank you for developing these in detail - having been part of developing my workplace's reopening plan and other workplace guidelines, I believe these standards are critical to ensuring that all of us know what all of us: employees, employers, our workplaces need to consider to reduce spread of SARS-CoV-2 Virus that causes COVID-19.

Now that we have all become accustomed to these important safety guidelines, practices, and re-configurations of workplaces and methods of working, it's more critical than ever to maintain these standards in a permanent form until there comes a time when COVID-19 is not at this level of spread and threat to our overall community health and well-being.

Now that measures are in place in workplaces, it is easier and we are focused more on maintenance and continual improvement of processes in our current environment, while continuing to follow these safety standards. We can do this and we can continue to do this as long as such standards are needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

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To the Workers who voiced concerns and urged development of these standards: thank you for your critical work on all our behalf!

To the Department of Labor and Industry and the Safety and Health Codes Board: Thank you for listening to the concerns and health and safety needs of Virginia workers - your work in developing and maintaining these standards is much appreciated!

To business owners and associations, and some workers who previously opposed these standards and who may continue to do so: these are reasonable standards that not only protect workers and your colleagues, they also protect you, your family, your friends, and your community. They support you in demonstrating your commitment to a safe and healthy workplace and to everyone's well being. We're all happier and more productive when we're safe and well. Let's all work together to continue to follow these standards and ensure we all get through this pandemic as safely as possible.