TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — New Jersey will require health care and "high-risk" congregate setting workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested for the virus on a weekly basis, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.
The following facilities will have until Sept. 7 to comply with the new mandate, Murphy said in a press release Monday afternoon:
• 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
Workers who do not get fully vaccinated will be required to get tested for COVID-19 "at minimum one to two times per week," Murphy noted.
"While reaching our statewide vaccination goal has so far dampened the impact of the Delta variant in New Jersey, some of our most vulnerable populations remain at risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 primarily due to exposure to unvaccinated individuals," he said in a statement. "We are taking this step today because 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," he added.
"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."
