What Happens If There Isnt a Covid-19 Vaccine Soon? – Barron’s

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The pandemic has affected every aspect of the economy. If there is no vaccine in the foreseeable future, the overwhelming majority of the workforce will require more safety protections, job flexibility, and better health care.

Only 25% of U.S. workers are employed in industries where they can work from home, says Marissa Baker, assistant professor of occupational health sciences at the University of Washington. The other 75% of workersin industries such as retail, health care, and transportation, where working from home isnt an optionwill need added protections to stay safe.

At a minimum, they will need more personal protective equipment, and training on how to use it properly. People who interact with large numbers of people, such as bus drivers, may even need to wear N95 masks, which provide a greater level of protection than cloth or paper masks.

Another challenge will be ensuring that everyone who interacts with workers also wears a mask. Baker says employers may need to hire a person trained to deal with customer confrontations to stand at the door to enforce mask wearing.

Essential workers will also need paid time off if they get sick or need to take care of children or other family members. Ideally, says Baker, these workers need a way to work flexibly while still maintaining their job and benefits.

The 25% of the workforce who dont have to go to an office, store, factory, or other physical location could benefit from a new working-at-home economy, says Nicholas Bloom, professor of economics at Stanford Graduate School of Businessalthough some studies have shown that working from home is linked to a decrease in productivity and an increase in inequality. Educated, higher-paid employees who can afford to work from home will develop skills and advance their careers, but those who cant will be left behind, says Bloom.

Still, as the pandemic wears on, both the at-home workers and those making commutes will face a significant mental health crisis, Baker predicts. People who cant work from home but who arent doing essential work will face job displacement and job insecurity, which Baker says is linked to depression.

Even those who can work through the pandemic are likely to face mental health stress from trying to balance their work and home life, especially parents if schools remain closed. Greater access to affordable health care, including mental health care, will be necessary for workers, says Baker.

Email: editors@barrons.com

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What Happens If There Isnt a Covid-19 Vaccine Soon? - Barron's