Johnson County backs off implementing COVID-19 vaccine test policy for its employees
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors on Thursday backed away from a plan to test unvaccinated county employees weekly under guidance from a now-rescinded federal rule.
The Supervisors unanimously approved an amendment to the county's COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing and Face Covering policy that was approved in December but never implemented. Testing employees was delayed in Johnson County as President Joe Biden's executive order directing large employers to have their workers be fully vaccinated or face weekly testing made its way through U.S. courts.
In late January, Biden scrapped the rule after a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, prompting Johnson County to modify its own policy just weeks after passing it.
Susan Nehring, an assistant Johnson County attorney, told the board that the policy was paused, and the testing requirement removed, because of several factors, including:
The legal ramifications as the courts considered it;
New scientific understandings of the virus and how the omicron variant spreads;
And how effective weekly COVID-19 testing would be in preventing spread of the virus.
"At the time when this idea was first developed we were in a different environment back in September. We were hopeful that people who were fully vaccinated would be unlikely to develop COVID-19," she said.
"Obviously some of the events we've seen recently show that the new variant has really turned things on its head."
Nehring pointed out that the county was able to determine that 90% of its more than 500 employees have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A group of county officials found that the costs and legal implications of implementing a testing protocol would outweigh the potential benefit of weekly screening of the 10% of county employees who are unvaccinated.
That group included Human Resources Director Lora Shramek, Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski, Board of Supervisors Executive Director Mike Hench, Supervisor Pat Heiden and Nehring,
A COVID-19 paid recovery leave for fully vaccinated employees that was not required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation remains in place under Johnson County's policy. This was adopted to provide an incentive for people to get vaccinated.
The policy also maintains the duty of employees to report a positive test or a diagnosis of a COVID-19 infection so the county can maintain a safe workplace. It also urges employees that believe they were exposed to follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines and to stay home if they have symptoms.
Nehring told the Supervisors that the county should consider amending its policy to require all employees, not just the unvaccinated, to wear a mask while in the work place. She also said the county should encourage vaccinated employees to get a COVID-19 booster shot.
"(A booster) has really proven to reduce the chance of getting infections and then also to keep people from getting sick if they get an infection," she said.
Johnson County Public Health seeks to encourage booster shots after January COVID-19 surge
Johnson County Public Health Community Health Division Manager Sam Jarvis told the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday that the county is starting to see COVID-19 cases decrease after a surge in infections over the past month.
"In recent times we were seeing 300-400 cases a day," Jarvis said. "In total, it was reported out that we saw roughly about 9,000 cases in January alone, or about 5-6% of the population."
This week, the Iowa Department of Health reported that 73% of Johnson County residents are fully vaccinated. Johnson County has the highest percentage of its population fully vaccinated in Iowa as of Feb. 1.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they've been given a single-dose shot (Johnson & Johnson) or a second shot (either Pfizer or Moderna).
Jarvis said there are 53% of children ages 5-11 vaccinated in Johnson County and the public health department is continuing to work with partners to hold pediatric vaccine clinics.
Related: COVID-19 surge in Iowa City is felt in K-12 and university classrooms
Jarvis said across Johnson County there are an estimated 42% of people who are vaccinated and have received a COVID-19 booster.
Pettit-Majewski and Nehring told the board that the public health department is considering a "wellness incentive" to get more fully vaccinated Johnson County employees to receive a booster shot. Pettit-Majewski and the board discussed doing a drawing for a gift card or other prizes as one option.
"If we really want to protect our work force, this might be a good way to use our energy rather than try to encourage that remaining 10% (of employees) who are unvaccinated," Pettit-Majewski said.
George Shillcock is the Press-Citizen's local government and development reporter covering Iowa City and Johnson County. He can be reached at GShillcock@press-citizen.com and on Twitter @ShillcockGeorge
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Johnson County rolls back testing requirement for unvaccinated workers
