Google will no longer require COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment for US employees and will not require already vaccinated employees to wear masks, get tested, or socially distance themselves while at work, according to CNBC, citing a Google spokesperson and an internal email to the tech giant’s San Francisco Bay Area employees.
According to CNBC, masking and distancing measures for vaccinated employees would be eliminated in “most” Google workplaces. However, unvaccinated staff who are allowed to join will still be subject to testing and mask-wearing laws.
A request for comment from Google was not immediately returned.
Google has previously warned its employees that they would lose their salary and potentially be dismissed if they didn’t follow its coronavirus vaccination policies.
The announcement comes after Amazon dropped its mask requirement for properly vaccinated employees two weeks ago. In addition, numerous large cities throughout the United States have stopped requiring evidence of vaccination and masks. Although instances are presently decreasing, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of over 900,000 people in the United States.
COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.