Two years into the pandemic and multiple variants that have resulted in one million deaths across the U.S., Black Americans are still suffering from COVID-19’s public health and economic consequences. The recovery of most people of color has been sporadic and uneven. From permanently closed businesses to limited access to health care, housing and food insecurity, increases in suicide and violent crime and educational setbacks, experts say it will take years before Black Americans are able to fully recover from the pandemic.
Omicron has left employers around the country short of workers. Sometimes very short.
At United Airlines, CEO Scott Kirby said nearly a third of the workforce called out sick on one day alone at Newark Liberty International Airport.
At MOM's Organic Market, some of its east coast stores have had to deal with 15 out of 50 workers out on a single day.
And at the community health center Mary's Center in Washington, D.C., half of the Covid Response Team tested positive for the virus over the past few weeks.