In a press conference Thursday, August 5, 2021, Governor Northam Announced a COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for State Workers.
Virginia will now require its state workers to show proof that they are fully vaccinated or be tested for COVID-19 every week. This policy will impact approximately 122,000 employees and will go into effect on September 1.
As of this announcement, nearly 73 percent of Virginia adults have had their first shot, and 54 percent of all Virginians are fully vaccinated.
“The only way to end this pandemic is to for everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Governor Northam. “As head of state government, we have a responsibility to lead by example and ensure the safety of our employees and the people they serve. The three vaccines are safe, effective, free, and widely available, and I strongly urge every eligible Virginian to get their shot. The time for waiting is over.”
According to Executive Directive 18 (2021), this directive applies to all, “Executive Branch Employees” and should be construed broadly and includes but is not limited to employees in the following offices, agencies, institutions, and authorities:
• Office of the Governor;
• Office of the Lieutenant Governor;
• Secretary of the Commonwealth;
• Executive Branch Agencies;
• Institutions of Higher Education; and
• Authorities established within the Executive Branch by the Code of Virginia or designated under a Secretariat in the Code of Virginia.
This Directive does not apply to Executive Branch Employees or state contractors while they work remotely without in-person contact with other employees, the public, visitors, vendors, those in custodial care, or customers.
