The State Department announced Monday it would return to phase one of its coronavirus strategy in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, The Hill reports.
An internal email from Under Secretary for Management Brian Bulatao explained that the agency would reduce its onsite workforce as Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas experience a surge in coronavirus cases.
Bulatao told employees the agency would return to its “Diplomacy Strong” strategy, implemented in May, that guided returning staff safely to the office. The new restrictions also apply to State Department agencies in Maryland and Virginia.
Under the guidelines, more people will work remotely and there will be limits on visitors and the size of gatherings.
The agency is expected to return to phase two on Jan. 18, he wrote, noting the agency will “evaluate data and assess local health conditions on an ongoing basis.”
The State Department’s Diplomacy Strong is a three-phase initiative that outlines how to maintain operations while keeping employees healthy and safe.
“Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the Department’s workforce is our top priority. We continue to follow our Diplomacy Strong framework, a conditions-based, phased workforce reentry approach and to use data to inform our decisions,” a State Department spokesperson told The Hill. “After carefully assessing the local conditions and in close coordination with the Bureau of Medical Services, Department of State facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR) have returned to Phase 1 as of December 21.”
Marisa Herman ✉
Marisa Herman, a Newsmax senior reporter, focuses on major and investigative stories. A University of Florida graduate, she has more than a decade of experience as a reporter for newspapers, magazines, and websites.
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