GM Kokomo may relax COVID protocols
Plant manager’s letter to employees details changes to masking, distancing
As of March 4, employees at General Motors’ facility in Kokomo have new guidelines when it comes to wearing masks on the job site. In a communication to the employees, plant manager Blake Rollins revised the masking and physical distancing requirements.
“I personally want to thank the entire Kokomo team for protecting themselves and each other by following our COVID safety protocols,” wrote Rollins. “It has been a long time coming, but it will be so nice to see everyone’s smiling faces.”
The new safety protocols detailed in the letter cover several points:
· Any GM facility located in a county considered to be at low or medium risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will feature optional masking and physical distancing, regardless of vaccination status, unless a government requirement overrides it. GM also will provide masks for any employee who wants them.
· Facilities in high-risk counties must continue masking and physical distancing.
· Positive test results and absenteeism among employees due to COVID may impact how stringent the safety protocols will be at individual facilities.
· Employees at risk of serious COVID illness due to underlying health conditions are encouraged to continue masking.
· Employee are asked to notify their supervisor if they are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, test positive for COVID, or come into close contact to a person who is positive for COVID.
· Quarantine and isolation guidelines recommended by the CDC will be followed for those who test positive or are identified as close contacts to a COVID-positive individual.
· GM continues to encourage vaccinations and boosters for their employees.
It should be noted that Howard County is still considered to be a “substantial risk” for COVID according to the CDC. This designation is neither “high” nor “low or medium” risk. Therefore, it is uncertain whether the relaxing of masking and social distancing actually will take place in Kokomo, given the protocols detailed by Rollins.