State Employees And Healthcare Workers Must Be Vaccinated Or Undergo Weekly Testing

On July 26, 2021, California Governor announced a new mandate requiring state employees and covered employers in the health care industry and in high-risk congregate settings, such as adult and senior residential facilities, homeless shelters, and jails, to get vaccinated or get tested regularly. The mandate applies to all workers of covered employers. Specifically, the order mandates healthcare workers to show proof of vaccination or undergo testing for COVID-19  at least once per week. The testing frequency requirement is based on the facility type. Workers in acute and long-term care settings are required to undergo testing twice a week if the worker is not vaccinated. Workers in high risk congregates and other health care settings are required to undergo testing once a week if the worker is not vaccinated. Vaccinated employees do not need to undergo the testing requirements.

The new order for state workers will take effect August 2 and testing will be phased in over the next few weeks. The new order for health care workers and congregate facilities will take effect on August 9, and health care facilities will have until August 23 to come into full compliance.

The Order is linked here for ease of reference: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Unvaccinated-Workers-In-High-Risk-Settings.aspx

Should you have questions or require additional information or guidance pertaining to the order, contact our office.

Written by: Kristina Kourasis Esq. & Renia Zadourian Esq.