Monkeypox at Work? Not Likely to be a Problem per CDC Guidance

Atlanta, GA (WorkersCompensation.com) – After close to two and a half years of dealing with the coronavirus, workplaces around the country are shifting back to the “old normal” of in-person work, meetings, and gatherings.

And just as things look to be heading to post-pandemic status, the monkeypox virus has grabbed headlines, raising concerns of yet another life-altering outbreak. But, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has emphasized, monkeypox doesn’t spread as easily as COVID, meaning that 100 percent remote work, altered scheduling, and mask mandates probably aren't in the cards again.

The following information highlights the CDC’s recent guidance, with a focus on workplace issues.

• Monkeypox transmission. The virus is not known to linger in the air and is not transmitted during short periods of airspace. Instead, it spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids or sores on the body of someone who has monkeypox, or through direct contact with materials that have touched bodily fluids or sores.
• Masks. The CDC recommends that people with monkeypox wear a mask if they must be around others in situations where close, face-to-face contact is likely. Many people who continued working in person during the pandemic got used to masking up before going in, but at this stage, there have been no calls for similar mask requirements to stop the spread of monkeypox.
• Business travel. The spread of monkeypox virus by respiratory secretions appears uncommon. The CDC reported that in instances where people who have travelled on airplanes had the virus, no known cases of monkeypox occurred in people seated around them, even on long international flights.
• Meetings. The likelihood of spreading monkeypox in casual conversations is low and someone probably won’t catch the virus from touching items like doorknobs. Monkeypox can spread through respiratory secretions that occurring during face-to-face interactions (the type that mainly happen when living with someone or caring for someone who has monkeypox). Thus, following social distancing protocols that have become the norm might not be a bad idea for those wanting to play it safe. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic taught, viruses – and their impact on people – can change. Thus, it’s possible that the early information on monkeypox might not be the final word. However, at this point, it appears that the new virus will not be the disruptor to workplaces that COVID and its variants has been.

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