CalMatters via The Almanac News
After months of reluctance, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday mandated that all California school employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 or be tested weekly.
This is the first such statewide mandate for teachers in the country. Until now, Newsom stopped short of such a requirement: He spent the past several months voicing confidence in school safety protocols like increased ventilation and masking, while urging all school employees to be vaccinated.
"We think this is the right thing to do, and we think this is a sustainable way to keep schools open," Newsom said at a press conference at Carl B. Munck Elementary School in Oakland. "We think this will do exactly what it's intended to do and that's to encourage people to get vaccinated."
State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, lauded the new requirement in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.
"Vaccinations are our best weapon to beat COVID-19. The Governor's move today ensures that everyone — our kids, teachers and all school staff — are better protected as California comes back to school with in-person learning," Becker said. "As a parent of two teens, I thank the Governor, teachers, school workers and our school districts for coming together on this issue. Together, we're building a wall of safety around our kids.