It’s been a month since my last update. Nothing has changed in terms of our attendance policy, but I wanted to share the latest data.
Surviving the Second Wave
The bad news is that Colorado just experienced a second wave of COVID-19. Just when it looked like things were under control, Coloradans perhaps got over-confident and relaxed on some safety precautions. Beginning with the 4th of July weekend, new cases rose sharply through the third week of July. Using a seven-day moving average, the peak of the second wave was actually higher than that of the first wave. Despite the warnings about a second wave from around the world and even from other states, it’s almost human nature that we just had to see it for ourselves!
The good news is that we are now a couple of weeks past the peak of the second wave and the numbers are falling even more sharply than they rose. Hopefully, Colorado learned its lesson and does not need to go through a third wave!
Takeaways from the Second Wave
For me, there were two key takeaways from the second wave. First, I’m encouraged by the fact that the damage from the second wave was substantially less. At the peak of the first wave, we averaged 89 hospitalizations and 40 deaths per day. At the peak of the second wave, those numbers were 50 and 6, respectively. I don’t mean to discount the severity of a second wave – it was unnecessary no matter how you spin the numbers – but we at least did a better job of lessening the load on our healthcare system, greatly reducing the number of deaths, and protecting the at-risk population.
Two, it reinforced the importance of maintaining safety protocols. Like the wildfires we are more familiar with in Colorado, it only takes a spark. And once the spark becomes a flame, it will spread surprisingly quickly. As Smokey the Bear says, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”
A Gentle Reminder
I want to thank everyone who has opted to come into the office, even if just to attend a meeting. It’s been great to see the faces I’ve seen. More than ever, I appreciate the value of face-to-face interaction – this, coming from a staunch introvert who claims not to need the interaction!
I also want to thank those same people for upholding our safety protocols, which apply both inside and outside of the office. As a gentle reminder, our protocols are posted in our Employee Handbook. A couple of clarifications:
- Some of you have asked about how to assess risk and act accordingly. Unfortunately, my “stock” answer is to read this page on the risk factors and make your own judgment. We want to treat you like the professionals we expect you to be, to make good decisions based on good information. I’ll just say the more those risk factors add up for anything you might have done or plan to do, the greater the expectation you will self-quarantine or get tested. If you’re still unsure, please reach out to your manager or me directly. I know many of you have already done this after traveling out of state or attending larger group events or whatever. Thank you for the respect you’ve shown to the rest of us!
- Some of you have asked about the office mask protocol in specific situations. First, we will allow an exception for meetings in Sativa or Indica as long as all three of the following are true: no more than three people in each room, participants are at least six feet apart, and the meeting does not last more than an hour. Second, candidates being interviewed must wear a mask while in the office except during the interview itself. The interviewer and candidate must sit at least six feet apart and each has the option to wear a mask. A mask is a hindrance both to hearing others clearly and to seeing facial expressions, so this is meant to be a compromise that allows for clear communication at a safe distance. Third, the only other exception to the mask rule is when you are at your desk. So while I know it’s inconvenient, please put a mask on to visit others or make a trip to the kitchen. Thank you!