Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín on Monday called for a mandate requiring city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or otherwise subjected to regular testing.
"My own personal opinion is that we should require our City of Berkeley employees… be vaccinated or to submit to weekly testing, particularly those that are engaging with the public on a weekly basis." Arreguín said during a virtual town hall. "Given how transmissible this delta variant is, I think it’s a matter of public health and safety."
Arreguín advocated for a policy that mirrors the one implemented by the state last week.
It’s unclear how many Berkeley employees are unvaccinated, but the mayor said that preliminary data suggest some still haven’t received the shot. He hoped that a mandate would incentivize hesitant employees to become inoculated.
According to Arreguín, the Berkeley City Manager could impose such a policy.
However, Matthai Chakko, a spokesman for the city manager, argued against the rule.
"Every workplace is different and few are as complex and deliver the range of services as city government," Chakko wrote in an emailed statement to Berkeleyside. "Given the complexity of our organization, a vaccine mandate could not be effectively implemented by simple directive."
Arreguín also called on private businesses such as restaurants, bars, and performance venues to require people show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test before entering the premises.
"This is something that’s been done in San Francisco and is increasingly happening in the state of California," he said. "I call on our business community to work with the city to implement a voluntary proof of vaccination program... in the absence of a specific mandate."
His comments come a day before San Francisco Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax indicated the city is considering imposing a proof of vaccine mandate for such businesses.
