I understand that regulating workplace health and safety is a burden on businesses, especially now. Unfortunately, many, if not most, businesses do not have a great track record historically for taking responsible safety measures on their own. Added to that, the state may contribute to prolonging the pandemic if the Covid-19 Workplace Standard is repealed too soon. What happens to businesses if a new, more lethal variant emerges because we let it? What happens to Virginia workers and their families as folks return to work? How does it help Virginia's economy if we can't find workers to perform essential work?

It may be that Covid-19 becomes part of our respiratory illness universe. We're not there yet. Please don't repeal the Covid-19 standard yet.

Thank you,

Erin Hamilton