PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey plans to require state workers in certain health care facilities and congregate settings to be fully vaccinated or regularly tested for the coronavirus.
The requirement comes in response to the highly transmissible delta variant. Health officials say the variant is the dominant strain responsible for new COVID-19 cases in the state.
In an announcement on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy said full vaccinations will be required in these settings, or, employees can undergo COVID-19 testing once or twice a week. The requirement takes effect on Sept. 7.
Private companies are allowed to adopt the mandate and add stricter guidelines if they choose.
“Our mandate is the floor,” Murphy said. “If we do not see significant increases in vaccination rates among the employees in these settings, we are ready and willing to require all staff to be vaccinated as a condition of their employment.”
Impacted state settings include:
• Ancora Psychiatric Hospital
• Ann Klein Forensic Center
• Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
• Trenton Psychiatric Hospital
• Paramus Veterans Memorial Home
• Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home
• Vineland Veterans Memorial Home
• Developmental centers
• University Hospital
• State correctional facilities
• Juvenile Justice Commission facilities
Impacted private facility settings include, but are not limited to:
• Long-term care and assisted-living facilities
• County jails
• Acute-care hospitals and specialty hospitals
• Short-term and post-acute in-patient rehabs
• Licensed behavioral health facilities
• Home health agencies
Murphy added in a statement, “It has been proven time and time again that vaccines save lives and are our way out of this pandemic. Individuals in health care facilities should have confidence in their caretakers, and this measure will help ensure peace of mind for those in higher-risk settings. And we are prepared to consider additional measures if we do not see a satisfactory increase in vaccination uptake in those settings as this new requirement is put into effect.”
Vaccinated people can still get sick or transmit the virus, so state health officials strongly encourage everyone to get their shots and wear masks indoors.