There are two different types of lab tests that can detect COVID-19. These include the nasal swab and the antibody test. Both of these work differently and serve different functions. But it is important that both scientists, businessmen and all people understand how the antibody test works. 

What Are Antibodies? 

Antibodies are part of the body’s natural immune response and defense system. Over the years, large antibody discovery studies using cell sorting technology have helped progress medical technology.

Antibodies circulate in the blood, recognizing foreign substances in order to attack and get rid of harmful bacteria and viruses. These are called antigens. Typically, antibodies will be created after your first exposure to an unsafe substance, aka the antigen. They are made by your white blood cells. Then, the next time you are exposed, they will try to fight off the dangerous particles so that you do not get sick a second time. 

How Does an Antibody Test Work? 

Doctors can order blood work for a patient to determine if there are any antibodies built up in the bloodstream. They will be present if you had the disease before. So in the case of a COVID-19 patient, this type of lab work would determine if the patient had the coronavirus in the past or not. 

Another name for this type of lab work is serology testing. With COVID-19 it’s specifically looking for the antibody called immunoglobulin G. The body produces this in response to the virus. Generally it can take up to two weeks to develop after an active infection.

It is important to know that this test is not able to detect an active virus. So if you are currently having symptoms of COVID-19, it is unlikely that this test will tell you if you have it or not. This test may also not be covered under insurance policies. However, most companies will cover a nasal swab to try to detect an active virus.

What Does a Positive Test Mean? 

A positive test means that you have previously been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Unfortunately, positive results could also mean that you have antibodies from a previous infection with a different virus. That is because there are other viruses within the same family of coronavirus. This test is unable to differentiate between the various strains of coronavirus infections. 

Scientists are unaware if a positive result means immunity to the virus. There have been suspected cases of reinfection, however, it is rare. Although normally, antibodies offer some sort of protection, they may not be able to fight the virus off completely. Even if they do provide some sort of immunity to the virus, no one knows how long it would offer protection. 

It is possible for you to test positive even if you have never had symptoms of COVID-19. Many people remain asymptomatic when infected. Therefore, this helps those who may not have found out otherwise that they had the virus. 

What Does a Negative Test Mean? 

A negative test means that you have never had any of the coronavirus infections. However, this does not mean that you will not get it in the future. It also cannot ensure that you are not currently infected. Since it can take up to three weeks for antibodies to develop, it is possible for you to be exposed and not know for a few weeks. In addition, some people may never develop antibodies even if they had a previous infection. 

Whether you test positive or negative, it is important to limit the spread from person to person. So, be sure to follow CDC guidelines to limit your exposure to others so you won’t contract the virus.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Antibody Testing and COVID-19 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Be that as it may, you’d like to do more. Perhaps implementing a company-mandated policy for vaccinations would work. If this is something you’re considering, there are a few things you need to know. Continue reading to learn more.

Is It Legal For Employers to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has stated that employers will have a right to require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine to maintain their jobs. This permission is primarily provided to companies that feel a significant health and safety risk to employees, customers, or the general public. If your startup doesn’t fall in this category, it is best to encourage employees instead.

Incentivized Vaccine Policies

Not sure you want to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for employees? You do have other options. Many companies have decided to offer incentives for staff interested in obtaining the vaccine. These incentives can include additional compensation, paid time off, or cash bonuses. By eliminating some of the challenges employees would have to go through to get the vaccine, employers can encourage more people to go through the process. When selecting this route, it is essential to remember not to make incentives too large to prevent claims of coercion.

Developing A Policy

Whether you’re going to mandate vaccines or merely develop an incentive program to encourage employees to get vaccinated, you’ll need to put these policies in writing. Such information is ideal for protecting your startup and educating your staff. You’ll need to keep these documents on file, administer them to new hires during the onboarding process, and create signs to place in common areas. Don’t make the mistake of trying to write these policies and contracts on your own.

Work With An Attorney

Just as you would with a background check for employment and general policies for new hires, you need to consult an attorney. Although the rules and regulations surrounding COVID-19 vaccines in the workplace are relatively new, an attorney is educated enough to help you navigate the murky waters. They can ensure that you’re not overstepping your boundaries or violating any laws that could get you in legal trouble.

Employees With Religious Beliefs or Disabilities

Employers may have a right to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees, but there are some exemptions. Employees that state they have religious beliefs or disabilities that prevent them from obtaining the vaccine have a right to object. Your attorney can talk you through methods you can use to accommodate their needs. Solutions might include allowing them to work remotely, transitioning to a department that’s the least exposed to the general public, or assisting individuals with disabilities in getting to and from vaccination sites safely and affordably.

You want to be careful about how you proceed with this because they are protected by the American Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Failure to comply could result in legal action that could be difficult for your startup to bounce back from.

Starting a business in the middle of a pandemic is challenging for a novice entrepreneur. It is your responsibility to ensure that you provide employees with a safe and decent environment to work. While a company-mandated COVID-19 vaccine policy may seem like the most effective solution, you must consider the pros and cons. Before making a final decision or hiring staff, talk with a legal representative to develop the safest policies to protect your business, employees, customers, and the communities you serve.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post New Business, New Hires, And COVID-19 Vaccine Policies: Considerations For Employers appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

If you had to shut your business during the pandemic in 2020 and you’re fortunate enough to have the opportunity to open it again, you might be wondering how to do so safely. The truth is, there are some extra steps you need to take to reopen your company safely for yourself, your employees, and your customers or clients. Since we are only in the vaccination stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all still need to be cautious about spreading the virus while we do our part to stop it for good.

Your patrons will look to you to provide the same service you did before March 2020. Unfortunately, doing so isn’t as simple as opening your doors, and if you want a successful reopening, you need to have everything in place before welcoming your community inside.

Define Your Internal and External Policies

Check with your state and county to see if there are any requirements you need to abide by in order to deal with the public. You may need to incorporate a maximum capacity of people in your store or install plexiglass. Also, it might be a good idea to invest in an air filter if you have a lot of people entering and exiting your business.

If it’s only you and your employees, will you require COVID tests and, more importantly, can you? If employees want to work from home and it’s possible for your business to function like that, it may be worth offering as an option.

Requiring masks is a policy typically up to the business owner, so decide where you stand on that and prepare to defend your position. Remember, it’s your business, and you can enforce any rule you see fit to protect yourself and your employees.

Make the Rules Clear

For customers and employees to follow the rules, they have to be clear. So, in addition to communicating the rules of your business, be sure to post them in plain sight. That way, if someone isn’t following your regulations, you can communicate your policy and point them in the direction of your signs.

As long as your policies are clearly defined and displayed, you should have an easier time enforcing them when the time comes. But remember to be polite because even though there is a guide to handling Google reviews for your business, you want positive reviews and happy customers.

Run the Numbers

Based on the information you discover about your state and county’s policies, calculate your cost of opening versus your projected revenue and decide if you can reopen at all. If it’s not economically possible right now, maybe you could look into conducting your business online until your business can turn a profit again.

Have a Contingency Plan

If you find that you can open and stay afloat, you still need to account for possible employee absences due to sickness. Not only might they get sick and have to quarantine, but they might need to take care of family members. Be sure you have the resources to cover their work and determine how long you can run your business with the least number of people. Decide what you’ll do if you hit that number and reach out to temp agencies in the event you need them.

Prepare for a Surge

The vaccination plan is rolling across the world, but nothing is 100%. Not only that, vaccinations are not mandatory, so there’s no telling how long it will take for herd immunity to kick in and protect those who cannot receive the vaccine. As evidenced by the controversy with Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, setbacks can happen, and if a surge happens, you have to be prepared to shut your doors again.

Opening Your Doors and Keep Your Business Viable

If you plan to open your business, make sure you’re ready for all that entails. While it can be exciting to get back out there, keep in mind that your business might not feel like it used to. But the better you can roll with the punches of today’s world, the higher the chances are you will come out successful on the other side.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post What to Keep in Mind When Opening Your Business Post COVID appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.