SACRMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California will require state employees and all health care workers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or get tested weekly.
It comes as officials aim to slow rising coronavirus infections, mostly among the unvaccinated. Officials announced Monday that the new rules will take effect next month.
There are at least 238,000 state employees, and more than 2 million health care workers in the nation's most populated state.
NEW: CA will have the strongest state vaccine verification system in the US and will require state employees & healthcare workers to provide proof of vaccination—or get tested regularly.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 26, 2021
We’re experiencing a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Everyone that can get vaccinated—should.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the new mandate on Twitter, adding, "We’re experiencing a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Everyone that can get vaccinated—should."
About 62% of all eligible Californians are fully vaccinated, and the state has struggled to make significant progress in recent weeks.
The more contagious delta variant now makes up an estimated 80% of infections in California. Hospitalizations are on the rise, though still far below a winter peak.
