LA County Considering Vaccine Requirement For Certain Indoor Spaces

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – As local health officials warn of an “explosion” in COVID-19 infections, Los Angeles County will consider a plan to require proof of vaccination to enter certain indoor public spaces.

County supervisor Janice Hahn recommended the county start looking into the issue, saying she wanted to seek advice from public health and other experts over the next two weeks. She stressed that her motion to consider the matter does not put new rules in place at this time.

Hahn’s plan was presented the same day the supervisory board unanimously ratified an order requiring all county employees – more than 110,000 people – to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. here October 1. The council left open the possibility of exemptions and tests. rather than vaccines for some employees.

The board of directors gave its approval to a decree issued last week by President Hilda Solis.

The executive decree can be viewed here.

Also on Tuesday, the county public health director warned of an “explosion” of cases, saying they will likely continue to rise at least until September.

Barbara Ferrer, director of the county’s public health department, told the board that the agency will issue a revised health ordinance this week aligned with a new state mandate requiring all workers in health facilities. health are fully immunized by September 30. But the county order will be slightly larger, including vaccination requirements for emergency medical technicians, paramedics, dental workers and home health workers.

“Over the next few weeks, we will be working collaboratively and closely with our partners in the health and labor sector to develop an effective education and implementation strategy,” Ferrer told the board. “… We favor COVID vaccination for all eligible people due to the increasing evidence that these vaccines are effective and safe and are the most powerful tool to end the pandemic.”

She warned that without a significant increase in vaccinations, infections will continue to increase with the proliferation of the highly infectious variant of the Delta virus.

“It is simply intolerable not to make good progress given the dangers of the Delta variant,” she said.