Northam mandates COVID vaccinations for state workers

Governor Northam in Richmond announced Thursday that a vaccine mandate is being put in place for the more than 120,000 state employees to help keep services going and protect workers and customers from the contagious delta variant of COVID-19.

Northam says Virginia’s vaccination rate among adults at 54 percent is among the highest in the South but those who still refuse the serum are placing the rest of the public at risk.

He noted that employees who refuse the vaccine will be subject to weekly COVID testing and must produce paperwork that shows those results.

The governor also wants school systems to follow directives passed in the General Assembly this spring that calls for in-person instruction five days a week and to follow CDC guidelines including wearing masks.

Northam said school districts that do not follow those laws should have close discussions with their legal advisors.

(IMAGE: Associated Press)