Delta's top priority is protecting our people. Since the start of the pandemic, we've invested resources to mount industry-leading safety measures in the operation, stand up new HR programs and resources, and launch a massive COVID-19 testing program to make testing easy, quick and free of cost to all employees.
As vaccines became available, we took an active role to ensure Delta employees and their families and friends had easy access to vaccines as soon as possible. We agreed with top scientific and medical experts that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 was - and remains - the best tool to end the pandemic and recover the business, restore our joy and reclaim our lives.
Together with the
Unfortunately, the current aggressive B.1.617.2 (delta) variant presents a very real threat to the health of our employee population - particularly those who remain unvaccinated. Delta is now driving toward a 100% vaccination rate and implementing additional actions to encourage vaccinations.
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Here's a closer look at the work we've done to protect our people, our customers and the communities that we serve as we work toward a common goal to end the COVID-19 pandemic. UNPRECEDENTED TESTING OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS ALIKE
We launched an unprecedented employee testing program in
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In partnership with AZOVA, now available Ellume COVID-19 Home Tests are single-packaged and offer highly accurate results in minutes. EMPLOYEE HEALTH PROTECTION
At the onset of the pandemic, we were quick to introduce full pay protection to employees who experienced symptoms, tested positive or had been exposed to others who had tested positive. We also offered paid leave for our employees at highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19 so they could take themselves out of the workforce without worry. DELTA'S FIRST CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS
We welcomed world-renowned cardiologist and
Delta also forged ongoing partnerships last year with
Starting in
Beyond
In our airports and on board, we implemented comprehensive layers of protection throughout the travel journey to prioritize the health of our employees and customers above all else. Based on expert medical advice and customer feedback, we established a Global Cleanliness Division to raise the bar on cleaning and to ensure we were constantly innovating to protect our people as the pandemic evolved. We deployed clean ambassadors to ensure a consistently safe and sanitized experience at more than 55 airports.
On board, we put people before profit by creating more peace of mind for our passengers, blocking middle seats and limiting capacity across all cabins. This remained in place through
To incentivize vaccinations in the midst of a busy summer operations season, we rewarded
We are pleased to recognize the more than 60,000 employees who have already opted to get vaccinated, without a company-wide mandate. While 75% employee vaccinations is a significant milestone, the fight is not over. The current B1.617.2 delta variant is the most aggressive variant of the virus and cases are once again rising across the country. This is why we are taking additional, robust actions to encourage employee vaccinations through masking, regular testing and a medical premium surcharge.
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