Editorial: Action needed as fatigue sets in

It’s hard to understate the transformation in attitudes toward COVID-19 that has taken place over the past year or more.

Early in January 2020, many in the United States were puzzled and at most mildly concerned by reports of a new virus outbreak in a Chinese city that few had heard of. That changed when what we had learned to call the coronavirus spread to Europe and the U.S. late that month. By February, fear over the spread of a contagious disease began to ratchet up but fell short of panic levels.

By March, we were beginning to realize that this was like nothing most of us had experienced before, as lockdowns were imposed and, after some contradictory messaging, most of us were told to wear a mask if we had to venture out. The extreme measures were seen as necessary steps to create a firebreak that would quickly halt the virus’ spread.

While there was a lull in the late spring, the spread of the virus soon accelerated and we came to terms with the fact that this was going to be a long slog. 

Generally, people have adapted to social distancing protocols, and while there’s still some resistance to mask wearing, for many the question is what type of mask one should wear or how many to put on at a time. 

Inevitably, though, many people have begun to tire of the safety measures. As we report on page 10, pandemic fatigue is becoming a worrisome trend in workplaces. Unlike, say, a car seatbelt, which vastly improves safety with one click at the beginning of a journey, communicable disease safety requires multiple strategies and constant adjustment.

Left unchecked, masks slip, people move closer, cleaning gets sloppier and repeated testing becomes a chore. And decisions by a few states to lower or end safety restrictions for the general public bleed over into the workplace.

But particularly in industries where workers are in close proximity to others, such as the food processing sector, frightening levels of COVID-19 spread have been reported, and any slip in safety protocols could have tragic consequences. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which previously issued guidelines on worker safety in the pandemic, has come under fire for its enforcement of safety rules during the crisis and last month missed a deadline to introduce a federal safety standard for COVID-19. 

At this point during the pandemic, where an end might be in sight but remains a ways off, it’s important to act quickly so employers know where they stand and can act to protect workers. By failing to meet the deadline, which some experts have regarded as a delay, OSHA missed an opportunity to effectively and urgently drive home the point that COVID-19 remains a deadly threat that, regardless of political distractions, must continue to be treated seriously by all.