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The California Department of Public Health yesterday issued a pair of  for health care facilities, establishing the state as the nation’s first to require workers in health care settings to be fully vaccinated. Under the vaccination order, issued per the instruction of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, workers have until Sept. 30 to receive their second dose. The second order directs hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities to verify visitors’ status as fully vaccinated or, alternately, testing negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to indoor visits.

In a s shared yesterday with the media, the California Hospital Association expressed support for the mandate. “Governor Newsom’s call today for a vaccine mandate for every California health care worker is an important step in the long battle we face against COVID-19 and the multiple variants that have emerged over the past several months,” said Carmela Coyle, CHA president and CEO. “It’s vital that we do all we can to protect vulnerable patients and those who care for them from this deadly virus.”