Some auto dealerships are reinstating face mask rules, requiring new hires to be Covid-vaccinated, and even giving money to potential customers who have received the vaccine in an attempt to stay ahead of a resurgent virus.

The move follows recent news that a married couple in their 70s, both contracted drivers for a Nissan dealership, died as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak linked to the Durango, Colorado showroom.

Last week San Juan Basin Public Health said it had linked 12 cases of Covid and a total of three deaths to the dealership despite Nissan of Durango claiming it required masks to be worn by employees (though, not by independent contractors), and that its workforce was almost fully vaccinated.

Automotive News reports that dealers are desperately struggling to balance a desire to safeguard the health of concerned employees with other employees’ reluctance to follow public health guidelines.

Related: New York Auto Show Cancelled Due to Covid – Again, For The Fourth Time In A Row

The website’s investigation found that some dealerships have begun requiring all new employees to be vaccinated but aren’t yet demanding existing workers receive a vaccine.

But used-car retailer CarMax told Automotive News that vaccinated employees could earn a financial incentive through the company’s well-being program, and the owner of an Alabama Toyota dealership who claims to have almost died from Covid, is offering vaccine incentives to workers and isn’t stopping there.

Nearly 30 of Eastern Shore Toyota’s mostly unvaccinated employees were infected with the virus in late July, including boss, Shawn Esfahani. Unsurprisingly, Esfahani is keen not to be hit by a repeat outbreak and is even offering members of the public a $1000 incentive to receive the vaccine. The dealership is drawing 10 names every week for 10 weeks, though the program is unlikely to make much difference to Alabama’s position as one of the least vaccinated states in the U.S.

Dealerships aren’t the only area of the auto industry struggling with the rise of Covid infections. The 2021 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) due to take place in August was canceled earlier this month, and the United Auto Workers union (UAW), Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis agreed to require unionized workers to wear face coverings in response to new guidance from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And the organization behind the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) recently announced that all attendees to next January’s Las Vegas event will be required to provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccination.