Dear Safety and Health Codes Board members,

I am a business representative in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region, and I write today to respectfully request that the Board votes to end the permanent COVID-19 workplace standard.  

Throughout the pandemic—as well as in pre-pandemic times—our top priority has always been the safety of our employees and the customers that we serve.  Although the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic initially called for measures to “stop the spread”, we are now entering a new phase in our economic recovery in which many of these measures are counterproductive and unduly burdensome.  As an organization whose mission is to bring people together to collaborate on and address significant challenges and opportunities facing our region, unnecessary regulations that limit our ability to bring people together and communicate dampen our ability to actively and efficiently address pandemic recovery.  Our business remains committed to the health and safety of our employees and customers, and revocation of the permanent standard will not change that focus.

Thank you for your consideration.