California will require state employees and some health-care workers to show proof of Covid-19 or face mandatory weekly testing, top state officials said Monday.
The program will require evidence of vaccination from all state employees beginning Aug. 2, state health officials said. Any state employees who remain unvaccinated by that date will be required to produce a negative Covid test at least once a week.
In state health-care facilities, employees who work in a hospital setting will be required to show proof of a Covid vaccine or produce negative Covid tests two times a week. Those who remain unvaccinated are recommended to wear N95 masks during work. Health-care workers in outpatient settings like dental offices will also be required to take a Covid test once a week.
“We’re at a point in this epidemic this pandemic where choice, individuals’ choice not to get vaccinated, is now impacting the rest of us in profound and devastating and deadly way,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in announcing the new order. “That choice has led to an increase in case rates, growing concern around increasing death rates and self evidently brought hospitalization rates.”
