The states that have seen the most significant change in test positive rates are Alabama, Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Indiana, although the rate only slightly declines from there. Most states have either maintained the same Test Positive Rate of Change or have an increased Test Positive Rate from the previous week. Only South Dakota and Delaware have a decreased test positive rate from the previous week. TAG’s analysis of national COVID-19 data shows that 13 states currently have a weekly test positive rate greater than 10%:

 

• Arizona (26%)

• Florida (19%)

• Mississippi (19%)

• South Carolina (18%)

• Texas (17%)

• Alabama (17%)

• Georgia (16%)

• Idaho (15%)

• Nevada (13%)

• Arkansas (12%)

• Utah (11%)

• Kansas (10%)

• Louisiana (10%)

 

What this tells us is that there is no indication that you should begin relaxing on protective measures in your facilities. Businesses are, once again, seeing increased absenteeism due the coronavirus, so you need to continue implementing all risk mitigation efforts to protect your workers and your business. Continue conducting employee wellness checks; ensure that all employees are wearing masks and social distancing; maintain enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols.

 

Additionally, in areas of high-risk (such as those with test positive rates greater than 10% or those seeing significant increases in the test positive rates), non-essential travel should be discouraged. If travel is essential or employee insists on traveling for a vacation, you will want to consider requiring quarantining and/or testing employees upon their return. 

 

In short: It’s ugly out there, and the upward trend is continuing in many areas across the U.S. Keep up the preventive efforts and give TAG a call if you need any assistance.

 

TAG continues to provide this analysis on a weekly basis to assist clients in their business planning. By tracking past and current trends, we are able to deliver predictive analytics to help businesses determine where their states appear to be headed; where governors may be implementing travel bans/quarantines; whether the business should be reopening or may have to close back down; etc.

 

For further clarification and specifications on the states in which your facilities are located or employees need to travel, and other impacts on your situation, give TAG a call today. We are here to help your business.