Most Virginia state workers must be vaccinated or tested, Northam says

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that the state will require most employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested weekly.

The state has seen its case numbers tick up in recent weeks after a summer of low numbers, almost entirely among unvaccinated people, as the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus spreads across the state.

Virginia’s over 120,000 employees will have to provide proof of vaccination by Sept. 1, giving unvaccinated employees just a few weeks to get shots. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require three to four weeks between doses.

Data shows the vaccines are effective, Northam said in a news conference. Since January, over 99% of cases and 98% of deaths have been unvaccinated people.

“There is no reason why we need to see more suffering and sickness,” Northam said.

On average, about 13,000 doses are getting a shot each day, according to state numbers. About 54% of the state’s population is fully vaccinated, and about 61% has received at least one dose.

Among adults, about 73% of the state has at least one dose. Similar numbers of employees are vaccinated, according to state officials.

As case numbers have ticked up in recent weeks, almost all have been not fully vaccinated. The number of cases where people were fully vaccinated has remained stable.

Additionally, Northam pointed to data that indicates the vaccines prevent hospitalization — about 98% of the state’s hospitalizations this year were not fully vaccinated.

“Vaccines are the only way to stop this virus and to get back to the normal lives many of us were rediscovering just a few and weeks ago,” Northam said.

A growing number of governments, universities and other institutions have moved to require vaccines. President Joe Biden ordered federal workers to get vaccinated last week, and many Hampton Roads universities also have announced requirements.

Northam’s order will cover part- and full-time employees across a number of executive branch agencies. The text of the order says it doesn’t apply to executive branch workers who are working remotely and don’t interact with the public or other employees.

It also doesn’t spell out consequences employees would face if they refuse. Northam said if they don’t comply, they will “take the next measure” but will discuss what that looks like with employees.

The order directs the state’s human resource department to create policies and procedures to implement it, including exemptions for religious reasons or disabilities. But the order doesn’t include a religious or medical exemption like some mandates have — anyone in those categories will be expected to get tested just like people who refuse to say if they’re vaccinated or get the vaccine.

Employees who are not fully vaccinated will have to wear a mask, per the order.

Northam ruled out a broader vaccine requirement for the public for now. But he said that he was pushing governments and private businesses to adopt similar mandates.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion this week affirming employers have the right to do so. In some states, legislatures have moved to prohibit governments from requiring vaccines.

“We can call vaccination a personal choice, but our choices affect other people,” Northam said. “Do it to save yourself. I do not want any Virginian to die, especially when it could have been prevented.”

Matt Jones, 757-247-4729, mjones@dailypress.com