Reopening the Economy during a Pandemic

The COVID19 pandemic negatively disrupted the global economy in a way the world has never seen. Despite the gravity of the public health emergency, it is necessary—and possible—to navigate the waves and peaks of the pandemic over the next 12 to 18 months in a way that both protects the public and reopens the economy safely. A particular challenge, to US employers especially, is the lack of both sufficient data as to the extent and spread of the virus, and detailed federal guidelines that provide specific actions and strategies employers should take in the face of the constantly changing health risks posed by the pandemic at the local level. Using established public health practice combined with available evidence from reopening experiences in other countries, we’ve developed techniques and strategies to help employers create nimble, responsive and safe work environments and arrangements.