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I am over 70 with underlying medical conditions. I am scheduled to come off a 6 week paid Covid leave, what should I do? Come back, quit, call health depart, buy my own personal protective equipment? I have one of the few jobs that pay a living wage at the Home Depot. The store is in the epi center that has contagious virus and customers needing one on one help for their do it yourself project. They allow 200 customers in the store at a time. The chance of someone with the virus are very high. I don't want to quit. They won't lay me off, because they don't want to pay unemployment insurance.

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Just spoke with my daughter. As an RN, that is what her Hospital is supplying her, surgical masks. She is Unit manager of a woundcare unit seeing patients one at a time. She says that you should be OK wearing what is being supplied. If you want, you can get a material one to wear over it.

I think you can be able to keep your six ft distance. I have been in Home Depot and asked for help. I didn't need to be real close to see what they were showing me.

Keep sanitizer with you. Wash hands frequently. When you get home strip and get a shower.
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Here in Canada, N95 masks that pass inspection are being reserved for health care providers. Others are using home made masks to stop spreading germs they may be carrying.

Can you get a letter from your doctor specifying your needs? Do you have access to a face shield? That would boost the protection of a mask.

Is the store requiring customers to wear masks?
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worriedinCali Jun 2020
Unfortunately Home Depot does not have a policy that requires customers to wear masks. BUT they must require masks if the county the store is in has a mask requirement.
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I work with COVID pts in a hospital, and we are told to wear the paper surgical masks, with a face shield if we are within 6 feet of a pt. ( with pts who are non Covid tested postitive.) If we are further than 6 feet its paper surgical mask only. Maybe you can get a face shield in the painting dept? . I understand your worry, and your fear of losing your job. Face shields and surgical masks are seeming to do the job at this point for many people. Since you do not know who is positive,, and those who are able to be out and about are just as likely to be non positive,, if you keep some distance you should be OK. Maybe they could reassign you to a position like night shift stocker? or something where you would not have to be in such close contact? You say you are coming off a 6 week Covid leave? Have you already tested positive and now are "over it"?
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Beatty Jun 2020
+1 Surgical mask & face shield combo. And of course, wash hands!
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Some studies have indicated homemade masks made with 3 layers of a cotton and synthetic material mix protect as well as the n95s. Fit is the most important because if the mask doesn't fit well to the face then air (and germs) are coming in without passing through the mask's filtering material.

I suggest if you want to continue working you obtain at least a couple of washable masks made with 3 layers of material (adjust the straps until the fix is very good) and a face shield. I have found adding a strap through the mask's normal ear straps and tied under my chin improves the fit.

Even with PPE, working with the public is a risk. How much of a risk depends on how well you use the PPE and how infected the public is in your area which you should be able to get an idea about from the publicly shared. Although the risk is reduced with a lower infection rate, there is still a risk because you only need contact with one infected person to get infected yourself.
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If you work you should do so in rubber gloves and N95 mask, whether supplied by them or by you. You can cover your N95 with a washable mask to prolong it's life. Yes, you are at risk. Only you can decide.
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My understanding is that under the CARES Act, if a DR gives you a letter that because of your medical conditions you are at high risk, you can resign and get unemployment
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joel, what do you wear when you are out getting groceries, etc? How comfortable is that mask?

I had to purchase my own protective items, thus that way I could choose what I liked best. I have tried the N95, a cloth mask, and a paper mask. Paper mask hands down the easier of the 3 to breath for me. I also found people can't hear my soft voice when I talk :P

Whatever mask you buy, if you can take some breaks during your shift where you can go outside, where it isn't crowded, to get a breathe of air.... ahhhhh.

I remember back last month, my boss wanted me to come back to the office to work, I was working from home. I dug in my heels and said "no". Glad I did, because my boss became sick with the virus, and if I was in the office, I would have caught it because I am of that age group where we all have underlying medical conditions.

It's a tough choice.
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As a Home Depot employee surely you know why they aren’t supplying you with an N95 mask. They have stopped selling N95s and have sent their stock to the health care professionals where they are needed most. If you don’t feel safe wearing a surgical mask then either find & purchase your own N95 or decide whether the risk outweighs the benefits, decide whether to quit or keep your job.
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There are special exceptions now qualifying you for unemployment. The usual waiting period(s) [if you quit] [if you are fired] and other rules [actively seeking employment rules] may be waived. The Cares Act (maybe expiring in July, so apply now) will add Federal funds ($600 ?) to your States umemployment benefits.

See the EDD website. This solution is not welfare, it is a benefit which you paid into from your paycheck, to protect you when the time comes.

Stay healthy. Act now.

You asked a good question, so I know you already know what's right!
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FloridaDD Jun 2020
The extra 600 expires 7/31 and I doubt it will be extended.  There will be many more people applying for jobs in August.  And no one paid into this.   But if she goes on unemployment now, would not expect a job when it runs out.
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I wound up quitting my job rather than risk getting the virus at 63 years old, with underlying health conditions myself. I applied for early SSI benefits last week and that's that. You are over 70 years old.........why not apply for your SSI now (if you haven't already) and retire?? You say you don't want to quit, so I'm not sure what your question is? What would you be calling the Health Dept about? Home Depot is allowed to stay open, and you're allowed to work or to quit, your choice.

Are you willing to go to work every day wondering if 'today' is the day you'll become symptomatic? It's not worth it, that's my 2 cents on the subject. That's where I was at with my job...........when an EMT told me he felt sorry for ME, that's when I decided it was time to leave and to keep my health AND my sanity intact! (I worked as a receptionist in an Assisted Living Facility).

Good luck!
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Sendhelp Jun 2020
Leolonnie,
It is my understanding that businesses in California were able to reopen based upon requirements of a safe workplace. If they do not comply, that would cause them to be closed again, and have fines. For example, Joel's employer is letting only 200 shoppers in at a time. These rules were instituted by authorities (which include the health department). Not sure if PPE and masks (or what type) are 'required'.

Sorry that you had to leave your job due to being safe from Covid! But that was the best decision you could make at the time, I am sure! I support your decision!
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