The requirement comes as COVID-19 cases in Washington state are rising because of the delta variant, while the vaccines are proving effective at preventing severe illness or death and keeping people out of hospitals.
Exemptions include legitimate medical reasons and “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Employees will not have the option to undergo weekly COVID tests in lieu of vaccination.
Inslee made the announcement nearly a week after Chris Reykdal, state superintendent of public instruction, called for a statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for educators, citing the rising numbers from the COVID-19 delta variant, which health officials have said is more transmissible than the original virus.
“[H]ealth and safety and the in-person
→ Continue reading at Crosscut
