If you work for the state of California or if you are a health care worker you will be required to show proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccination starting August 2021.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the new policy on Monday morning following a sharp increase in new cases of infection throughout California. The policy will go into effect August 2 for the state's 238,000 workers and August 9 for health care facilities.
State employees who cannot provide evidence of vaccination must undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing at least one a week, according to California Health and Human Services. Similar requirements are being required of employees of health care facilities both public and private.
Although new verification and testing process is currently limited to state employees and health care workers, official are encouraging all employers throughout the state to consider putting a vaccine verification policy in place.
“We need to step things up at this stage of the pandemic,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a media briefing. “Our projections are sobering.” The governor also said that projections show California will see a significant increase in hospitalizations if action is not taken now.
Approximately 62% of eligible Californians are vaccinated, but new vaccination numbers seem to have stalled in recent weeks as the number of case rates has risen to 9.5 cases per 100,000. Officials say that most of the new cases are occurring with unvaccinated people, stating that case rates are 600% higher than for those who are vaccinated.
“Too many people have chosen to live with this virus,” Newsom said. “We’re at a point in this pandemic, where individuals’ choice not to get vaccinated is now impacting the rest of us in a profound and devastating and deadly way.