Increasing COVID Cases – Survey Results

August 25, 2021 – Below are the results of the League’s survey of Maine’s credit unions to learn how credit unions are addressing the rapid increase in COVID cases. In addition, our most recent updates to the status of credit union lobbies can be found here. Please feel free to update your responses to either survey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written Responses

Comments about staff.

  • We lifted the mask requirement when the state did, and have not returned to a mask requirement. We are watching the situation daily, however.
  • Basing it on county designations, as to whether vaccinated have to wear masks.
  • Once FDA gives final approval to the vaccines, I am seriously considering making vaccinations mandatory.
  • Continue to monitor situation….. could change tomorrow.
  • Staff are currently required to wear masks unless you are along in an office and vaccinated. Non-vaccinated are required to wear masks at all times.
  • We are considering a mandatory vaccine for staff once the FDA changes the approval status of the vaccines
  • We are recommending masks be wore for our staff. If they choose to wear one great, if not it’s their choice.
  • We have 2 employees who are not vaccinated and are working remotely. We may re-launch our remote team and branch team strategy if the number of cases continue to increase due to our BCP risk with only one location and may go back to drive-up only.
  • When people are in their own workspace we are not requiring masks. We also are only requiring masks when a county is being deemed as substantial or high.
  • We are considering invoking the social distancing requirements again.
  • We are recommending masks be wore for our staff. If they choose to wear one great, if not it’s their choice.
  • Staff has had time to become vaccinated.

Comments about Lobby Services.

  • Masks are optional for members and staff at this time. We are not inquiring of the status of vaccination.
  • If we see a county we serve marked as high, we will ask staff to mask up.
  • We are only asking members, not requiring.
  • If due to quarantine requirements, staffing levels necessitate limiting services to drive-through only.
  • We did temporarily close our lobbies due to a staffing shortage. We are requiring members to wear a mask when in an office with an employee, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Currently, recommending all customers/members wear a mask while visiting our offices, per CDC guidelines.
  • It has been several months since we have had an employee miss work due to being in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID. It has been a longer time since we have had an employee test positive for COVID. If these trends were to change, we would certainly rethink our approach to lobby closures.
  • All other CUs in our chapter close their lobbies.
  • We have “masks recommended” signs up but are not requiring them to be worn by members. If the governor orders mask to be worn we will follow that order.
  • Having one location puts us at more Business Continuity risk than our peers who may have multiple locations. We may close our lobby and utilize drive-up only and break into two teams. A remote team and a branch team. The remote team will fill in for the branch team if someone is sick or who may have been exposed to someone who has COVID, or for someone who is on vacation.
  • We also are only requiring masks when a county is being deemed as substantial or high.
  • We will close our lobby if we have a COVID outbreak.
  • We have “masks recommended” signs up but are not requiring them to be worn by members. If the governor orders mask to be worn we will follow that order.
  • Lobby services are critical to our members and we are committed to meeting the needs of our members. Members and staff have had sufficient time to receive the vaccination and we assume every adult has made their personal decision.

Other general comments or questions.

  • Hancock County has 90% vaccination rate for 65+, the highest risk group. Overall is around 80%. Unless we’ve been bamboozled about the efficacy of the COVID vaccine, we should be able to avoid severe cases going forward even if break through cases rise. For the record, I encourage all staff to get vaccinated.
  • Difficult to police vaccination status.