Virginia’s 120,000 state employees will now be required to be vaccinated against coronavirus by September 1.
Governor Ralph Northam announced the mandate for state employees today.
State employees who refuse to get the vaccination will have to be tested for COVID-19 weekly and provide proof of a negative result.
Northam pointed out that approximately 99% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in Virginia in the past few months have been people who were not vaccinated.
He noted that more than 70% of adult Virginians have received at least one dose of the vaccine and that 54% of Virginians are fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, with a new school year about to begin, Northam reminded local public school divisions that a law passed by the General Assembly earlier this year requires schools to adhere to all CDC guidelines which includes requiring wearing masks indoors by all staff, students and visitors.
Northam said that back in June, Virginia was seeing fewer than 100 cases of COVID-19 a day. That number has now jumped to over 1,700 cases a day.
“Vaccinations are the only way to stop this virus,” Northam said.
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