"Weekly COVID Testing" Tightens Google US Workplace Safety Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Google in the United States is tightening its quarantine measures by mandating weekly COVID-19 tests for employees and other office entrants.

According to major foreign media on the 16th (local time), Google requires all employees and visitors entering its U.S. offices to undergo a COVID-19 negative test. Additionally, wearing masks while inside the office has been reinstated as mandatory.

A Google spokesperson stated, "To prevent further spread of COVID-19, we are temporarily implementing new health and safety measures for everyone entering our U.S. workplaces."

Google's new quarantine measures come amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. due to the Omicron variant.

The company has not specified how long these measures, which apply to its Mountain View headquarters in California and other U.S. offices, will remain in effect.

Earlier this year, Google postponed its planned office return date and announced that employees who do not comply with the COVID-19 vaccination policy would face unpaid leave with salary cuts, followed by termination.

Accordingly, employees who have not been vaccinated or have not provided exemption reasons by the deadline of the 18th will be granted 30 days of paid leave, followed by six months of unpaid leave.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.