Governor Kate Brown has announced she will be issuing new health and safety measures to address the spread of the COVID Delta variant: a vaccination requirement for state employees and statewide indoor mask requirements.

The governor's office says that new modeling from the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) projects that, without new health and safety interventions in place, COVID-19 hospitalizations will far exceed Oregon’s health system capacity in the next several weeks. According to modeling from OHSU, without these additional mitigation measures, Oregon could be as many as 500 staffed hospital beds short of what will be needed to treat patients hospitalized for any reason by September.

“Oregon is facing a spike in COVID-19,” said Governor Brown.

She continued, "If we all do our part, we can beat COVID-19 once and for all, keep our economy open and thriving, and return our kids to the classroom with minimal disruptions in a few weeks.” Some observers are noting the governor sounds earily like a broken record.

All State of Oregon executive branch employees required to be fully vaccinated according to Kate Brown.

Governor Brown announced that all State of Oregon executive branch employees will be required to be fully vaccinated on or before October 18, or six weeks after a COVID-19 vaccine receives full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, whichever is later.

The requirement will apply to all executive branch employees, including employees working for all Oregon state agencies, and in consultation with Oregon’s statewide elected officials, employees of the Oregon State Treasury and the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, as well as employees of the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries and the Oregon Department of Justice.

Employees will be required to show proof of vaccination by the deadline.

Individuals unable to be vaccinated due to disability or sincerely held religious belief may be able to qualify for an exception, as required by state and federal law.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

State of Oregon employees will not have the option of weekly testing instead of showing proof of vaccination.

“I am taking action to help ensure State of Oregon workplaces are safe for employees and customers alike", said Brown. "I am strongly encouraging all public and private employers to follow suit by requiring vaccination for their employees. The only way we can stop the spread of COVID-19 for good is through vaccination.”

The vaccination requirement does not apply to employees of Oregon’s legislative and judicial branches of government, though the Governor is encouraging the leadership of both branches to consider a similar requirement.

“The latest science is clear: both vaccinated and unvaccinated people can spread the Delta variant. After a year and a half of this pandemic, I know Oregonians are tired of health and safety restrictions. This new mask requirement will not last forever... It will help to protect all of us, including people who are immunocompromised, and our children under 12 who are not yet eligible to get vaccinated. Masks are a simple and effective tool that will keep our schools, businesses, and communities open.”


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-08-10 15:07:40

Last Update: 2021-08-10 15:27:39