Just as the COVID-19 threat appeared to be waning, monkeypox has emerged as the newest viral workplace threat. On July 30, 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared monkeypox a public health emergency. His announcement was followed by a statement from Governor Kathy Hochul saying the virus created an “imminent threat to public health.”
On August 4, 2022, President Joe Biden declared monkeypox a national public health emergency. On August 11, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its updated monkeypox guidance. The protocol for avoiding and mitigating monkeypox varies from COVID-19 in several respects. Read on to understand how this new virus will impact employers.