We've all seen it: A parent on a Zoom call, their child virtually learning nearby. Parents and kids stepped up in 2020 as schools and workplaces went on when they went remote.
Now, companies big and small are putting plans in place to have their employees return to work with vaccines more widely available and schools returning to in-person learning.
Helping bolster the confidence of workers as they return to work will be key. A recent survey from Arizona State University with the support from the Rockefeller Foundation found a 58% increase in employee mental health concerns during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic.
Access to COVID-19 testing can help businesses reassure employees as they return to work — even as vaccines roll-out.
How do we know? We've done it ourselves.
Abbott has thousands of dedicated employees across the country. Many are essential workers responsible for keeping lines open for products like our COVID-19 tests. Others are scientists and engineers designing new cardiac or neuromodulation technologies.
So, we developed a simple and robust workplace testing program to help identify infectious people and keep our workplaces healthy. Alongside other health safety protocols — including masking, social distancing, cleaning and handwashing — we've offered rapid tests to our employees at 40 sites since fall 2020.
Throughout this time, we experienced a positivity rate less than 1 percent. And among those employees who have tested positive, 7 of 10 did not have any symptoms. Our process helps us prevent employees from unknowingly slipping through other screenings protocols.
The success of testing at work is catching on. The same Arizona State University survey of 1,339 employers found that 68% said they were testing at least some part of their workforce.
At the core of our process is frequent testing with our reliable BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests that deliver results in minutes. Employees know their results in 15 minutes and, when they are negative, receive a digital pass through the NAVICA app, which is used to gain access to our facilities, like any other credential.
Other employers are turning to self-testing that their workers can do at home. Options like Abbott's BinaxNOW Self Test can allow employees the ability to do frequent testing before coming to work – providing peace of mind to themselves and potential customers that they may be interacting with, in addition to other measures in place.
Our employees are the heart of our company. We are proud to have created a way for them to return to work with confidence, and to have multiple options to allow other businesses to reopen. With affordable and easy-to-use testing and a simple process, companies around the country can move forward and help their employees get back to work and life with greater confidence.
Soon, we'll all see it again: Parents at work, their children learning at their classroom desks, schools and workplaces going on as they did before.
This story was originally published on May. 25, 2021 and updated on March 3, 2022. It was again updated on June 13, 2022.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
BINAXNOW COVID-19 AG 2 CARD
The BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 tests have not been FDA cleared or approved. They have been authorized by the FDA under an emergency use authorization. They have been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens, and are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.
For serial testing, the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Tests should be performed twice over 3 days, at least 24 hours (and no more than 48 hours) apart. For symptomatic use, a single test can be used.
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