Alphabet temporarily requires weekly covid-19 testing for anyone entering Google's offices or facilities in the United States, according to a company source.

Anyone entering these workplaces, Google will require a negative test and the person will be required to wear surgical grade masks while in the office.

"To help prevent the spread of covid-19 during this period of increased risk, we are implementing new temporary health and safety measures for anyone accessing our centers in the United States," said a Google spokesperson.

Google provides free in-home and in-person testing options to its employees, their dependents, and household members.

The temporary policy of weekly testing is due to the increasing number of cases of the omicron variant.

Google, which was one of the first companies to ask its employees to work from home during the pandemic, had told its employees that they would lose pay and eventually be fired if they did not follow its covid-19 vaccination rules.