California Requires School Personnel to be Vaccinated or Tested Regularly for COVID-19

This week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a new state public health officer order requiring all public and private TK-12 school personnel to either verify proof of full vaccination or submit to at least once-weekly testing for COVID-19. The order does not apply to home schools, childcare, or higher education.

The step, lauded as the first in the country for school personnel, took effect on Thursday and provides schools until October 15, 2021, to come into full compliance. Notably, the state’s announcement on school personnel follows a recent similar order from CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón requiring health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to regular testing for the virus.

Additional information from the Governor’s Office on the state’s new public health order for school personnel is available here. Dr. Aragón’s full public health order is available here.