With new CDC guidance in mind, employers considering options for masking in the workplace

WISCONSIN (WLUK) -- The new CDC guidance is raising questions for some area employers.

With more people back in the office, companies are working on ways to manage masking in the workplace.

Health officials say we are in the midst of a fourth surge.

"The community is frustrated, the health care systems are frustrated, I'm personally frustrated," Prevea Health President and CEO Dr. Ashok Rai said.

Dr. Rai says this time, this surge is different.

"The last three times, we didn't have vaccines, and we felt helpless. Now we feel helpless because people aren't getting a medication that has been proven to be safe and effective against this spread," Dr. Rai said.

As more people make their way back to the workplace, human resources expert Kurt Johnson says most employers have educated their employees about the benefits of the vaccine.

"Really trying to share a knowledge, an increased knowledge around what the vaccine has done and how that helps, not only the individual, but their families and their workforce," Johnson said.

With several Wisconsin counties in the substantial or high category for COVID transmission rates, some employers need to consider options for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

"Organizations are really reluctant to make a quick decision on this, so I think you're probably going to see them wait at least a short term, maybe a few days, maybe a week before they make any really difficult decisions, because they've gained so much momentum, they hate to see that go backwards, and many of them are bringing people back into the office or working on policies around that," Johnson said.

Johnson says most of the organizations he works with follow CDC guidelines.

Dr. Rai says many businesses are still likely processing this information, but he says that masking is an evolution that comes with an evolving virus.

"We've got to evolve with the science and right now, when community transmission is high with the Delta variant, when we are inside, we have to mask," Dr. Rai said.

That's whether you're vaccinated or not.

Dr. Rai continues to encourage Wisconsinites to continue to get vaccinated.