Allegheny County says all new employees must be vaccinated for COVID-19 – WTAE Pittsburgh

VISITORS IS AFTERNOON. REPORTER: THAT IS CORRECT. YOURS JUST CAME DOWN FROM RICH FITZGERALD. ALLEGHENY COUNTY HAS — ORDERS. THIS INCLUDES MANDATORY VACCINATIONS FOR ALL NEW EMPLOYEES. THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY A COUNTY EXECUTIVE RICH FITZGERALD WHO YS THESA HIGRHE — THEY HIGHER UP IT’’ BEEN 500-1000 NEW EMPLOYEES EVERY YEAR. THE OSNEW HIRES MUST SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION. HERE IS THE LATEST FROM THE ONE THIRD OF CURRENT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNVACCINATED. UNDER THE NEW ORDERS, THEY MUST BE TESTED WEEKLY AND SOME CASES, TWICE A WEEK. THEY MUST ALSO WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES INSIDE THE COUNTY BUILDINGS. WE ASKED W THYHEY DIDOT N ISSUE A MANDATORY VACCINATION ORDER FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES. >> IT BECOMES MORE COMPLICATED WHEN IT COMES TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES. THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE VISIT IN THE FUTURE. WE WILL SEE HOW THIS WORKS OVER THE NEXT 30-60 DAYS. REPORTER: THESE ORDERS ANNOUNCED LATE THIS AFTERNOON GO INTO EFFECT ON MOAYND MORNING

Allegheny County says all new employees must be vaccinated for COVID-19

Masks to be required for unvaccinated current workers and visitors to county offices

Allegheny County will require current employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear a mask and be tested at least weekly, with vaccinations being required for all new hires going forward, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Thursday.Masks will also be required for unvaccinated visitors at county buildings, such as the courthouse and the county office building, with Fitzgerald saying that will be done on “the honor system.”The new policy takes effect Monday, Fitzgerald said.”For those that are vaccinated, you certainly have the choice to wear your mask, including our employees,” he said. “So if you’re working in an office setting and you are vaccinated, and you might have health reasons, whatever it might be, you certainly have the option of wearing a mask or not. But for the unvaccinated, they will not have that choice. They have to wear the mask.”Watch the full video of the county’s news conference below.The move comes amid an increase in COVID-19 cases locally and the spread of the delta variant. The county health department is reporting an increase in hospitalizations, saying most patients were not vaccinated.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends mask-wearing in public indoor settings in areas with a “high” or “substantial” community transmission of the virus. Allegheny County is currently at the substantial level, according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.At the county’s regularly scheduled news briefing Wednesday, Fitzgerald was asked about the possibility of mask mandates or other virus-related mitigation measures in the county.”They’re not being considered necessarily at this time, but what I can say is that the Health Department and Dr. (Debra) Bogen and her team are continuing to look at data, and continuing to look at what’s happening on the ground. At this point, we’re recommending to follow the CDC guidelines,” Fitzgerald said.

PITTSBURGH —

Allegheny County will require current employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear a mask and be tested at least weekly, with vaccinations being required for all new hires going forward, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Thursday.

Masks will also be required for unvaccinated visitors at county buildings, such as the courthouse and the county office building, with Fitzgerald saying that will be done on “the honor system.”

The new policy takes effect Monday, Fitzgerald said.

“For those that are vaccinated, you certainly have the choice to wear your mask, including our employees,” he said. “So if you’re working in an office setting and you are vaccinated, and you might have health reasons, whatever it might be, you certainly have the option of wearing a mask or not. But for the unvaccinated, they will not have that choice. They have to wear the mask.”

Watch the full video of the county’s news conference below.


The move comes amid an increase in COVID-19 cases locally and the spread of the delta variant. The county health department is reporting an increase in hospitalizations, saying most patients were not vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends mask-wearing in public indoor settings in areas with a “high” or “substantial” community transmission of the virus. Allegheny County is currently at the substantial level, according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.

At the county’s regularly scheduled news briefing Wednesday, Fitzgerald was asked about the possibility of mask mandates or other virus-related mitigation measures in the county.

“They’re not being considered necessarily at this time, but what I can say is that the Health Department and Dr. (Debra) Bogen and her team are continuing to look at data, and continuing to look at what’s happening on the ground. At this point, we’re recommending to follow the CDC guidelines,” Fitzgerald said.