Announcement comes as growing number of public and private employers nationwide implement vaccination mandates<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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THURSDAY, Aug. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — California on Wednesday became the first state to require teachers and other school staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or else have to undergo weekly tests.<\/p>\n
The announcement<\/a>, made by Gov. Gavin Newsom, comes as a growing number of public and private employers nationwide implement vaccination mandates amid surging COVID-19 cases driven by the highly transmissible delta variant, The New York Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n “To give parents confidence that their children are safe as schools return to full, in-person learning, we are urging all school staff to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are how we will end this pandemic,” Newsom said in his announcement. “As a father, I look forward to the start of the school year and seeing all California kids back in the classroom.”<\/p>\n Last month, Newsom said California would require health care workers and state employees to be vaccinated or to be tested at least once a week, The Times<\/em> reported. On Thursday, state health officials made the requirement even more stringent for many, removing the testing option for more than 2 million health care workers in the state.<\/p>\n