• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Health

Corporate America is unmasking and ordering workers to return to the office as COVID deaths remain high

By
Amiah Taylor
Amiah Taylor
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Amiah Taylor
Amiah Taylor
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 15, 2022, 6:21 PM ET

As the number of COVID cases plunge following their peak in January, several major companies including Walmart have decided to lift mask requirements for workers while others, such as tech giant Microsoft, are inviting employees to return to the office.  

Which companies are unmasking? 

After several states—such as New York, Delaware, and Nevada—lifted indoor mask mandates over the past seven days (California will do so on Wednesday), corporations are withdrawing mask requirements for workers. Walmart, the largest private sector employer, said that fully vaccinated workers are free to go maskless in public spaces while working, unless local or state law mandates otherwise, according to The Washington Post. Similarly, Amazon announced last week that it would let fully-vaccinated warehouse employees go maskless, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Major banks that are lifting indoor mask mandates for vaccinated workers include Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. 

Which companies are returning to the office?

Microsoft, one of the largest U.S. tech employers, announced a reopening plan in a Feb. 14 blog post that includes ushering vaccinated employees back to the office by the end of the month. Meanwhile, investment bank BNY Mellon said earlier this month that its employees would return to the office on March 7, as reported by The New York Times. American Express also said that employees would return to the office next month for hybrid work, as it had announced in October. Both BNY Mellon and American Express mandate that employees returning to the office be fully vaccinated. 

Latest on the pandemic

Companies look like they’re in a hurry to return to normal, but the pandemic, which has killed 900,000 as of this month, is far from over. The seven-day U.S. daily average of deaths was 2,400 on Feb. 14, according to The New York Times. 

Many European countries have re-evaluated their precautions against COVID, treating it as if it were flu outbreak. But some scientists have warned that the assumption that COVID variants may become milder over time may be false. In fact, a new variant called “Deltacron,” that combines both the Omicron and Delta variants, has been discovered as recently as last month, though some virologists questioned the validity of the finding. Whether the disputed new variant would be more or less severe than Omicron remains unclear.  

The U.S. lags behind other major countries in terms of COVID vaccination rates, and its death rates are “eye-wateringly high,” according to Devi Sridhar, the head of the global public health program at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, as reported by The New York Times. Because of factors such as healthcare discrimination in minority communities, rampant health misinformation, and increased medical distrust, Americans have been slow to vaccinate in comparison to other wealthy countries. 

Music festivals and theme parks

Some companies are taking steps to create post-pandemic workplaces, which includes adopting long-term hybrid work models and eliminating indoor mask mandates. However, in doing so, some aren’t following the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendations.

The Coachella Music Festival, organized by music and events company GoldenVoice, will not require attendees to wear masks or show proof of vaccination or negative COVID test results when its concert takes place in April. While mask mandates are no longer required in California, excluding Los Angeles County and certain locations such as public school grounds, the CDC recommends people who aren’t fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve continued close contact with others.

Similarly, Disney theme parks announced Tuesday that face coverings will now be optional, both indoors and outdoors. Guests will also not be required to show proof of vaccination. However, the State of California, where Disneyland is located, recommends that all guests be vaccinated before entering theme parks. Also, visiting a Disney theme park could put unmasked guests in close contact with others, which is not in line with the CDC’s recommendations.  

Disney did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment. 

Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you.
About the Author
By Amiah Taylor
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

The health benefits of saunas: backed by research and experts 
HealthHealth
The health benefits of saunas: backed by research and experts 
By Katie MooreMay 22, 2026
4 hours ago
Kaged Whey Protein Isolate Review (2026): Our Honest Opinions
HealthDietary Supplements
Kaged Whey Protein Isolate Review (2026): Our Honest Opinions
By Emily PharesMay 22, 2026
6 hours ago
Gabrielle Judge, a content creator known as “Ms. Anti Work"
SuccessWorkplace Innovation Summit
Founder of Ms. Anti Work says her ‘lazy girl job’ allowed her to only work a few hours a day—and she built her media company on the side
By Emma BurleighMay 22, 2026
14 hours ago
What is red light therapy?: Our experts break down the new wellness trend
HealthHealth
What is red light therapy?: Our experts break down the new wellness trend
By Katie MooreMay 21, 2026
1 day ago
Legion Recharge Creatine Review (2026): Expert Tested
HealthDietary Supplements
Legion Recharge Creatine Review (2026): Expert Tested
By Christina SnyderMay 21, 2026
1 day ago
Clinical Psychologist Daniel Wendler
ConferencesWorkplace Innovation Summit
A ‘proudly autistic’ workplace expert says putting neurodivergent employees in a typical office is like dropping a polar bear in Austin, Texas
By Tristan BoveMay 20, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
1 day ago
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
Success
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
By Preston ForeMay 20, 2026
2 days ago
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
3 days ago
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can't explain why they pay what they pay
Workplace Culture
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can't explain why they pay what they pay
By Sydney LakeMay 20, 2026
2 days ago
McKinsey partner says up to 50% of work hours could be transformed within the next 5 years
AI
McKinsey partner says up to 50% of work hours could be transformed within the next 5 years
By Emma BurleighMay 21, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of May 21, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 21, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 21, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.