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PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County officials on Thursday announced changes to their vaccination, masking and other Covid-19 policies as Covid-19 transmission rates continue to rise.
County Director Rich Fitzgerald said that starting August 9, all new hires will need to be vaccinated, and current employees who are not vaccinated will be required to wear masks and will be tested regularly for COVID-19 a once the protocols have been established.
County executive branch employees, including contract employees, who have not provided proof of vaccination will be required to wear face coverings that cover the person’s mouth and nose when they are at home. indoor at any facility in the county.
“Vaccination is the most effective tool we have to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect those who, due to age, health or other conditions, cannot be vaccinated,” said Fitzgerald. “As a government and essential service that has been open throughout the pandemic, with the vast majority of our employees working here, immunization is the best way to ensure the protection of the public we serve. With this new policy, the public can have confidence that the actions we take will protect their health and well-being. “
The policy also applies when people are in a county vehicle when they are not alone, as well as outside in cases where physical distancing is not possible. Additionally, unvaccinated visitors to county facilities will also be asked to mask themselves while inside.
Signage to this effect will be in place starting Friday and this policy will also come into effect on August 9. Vaccinated employees and visitors can make their own choices regarding masking.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr Debra Bogen said the county fell in the substantial category for the rate of COVID-19 transmission and that more two-thirds of the cases in the region were from the Delta variant. She said the percent positivity rate climbed to 3.7%, from 2.7% last week. She said, however, that the actual cases reported may just be “the tip of the iceberg”. Bogen said many people don’t get tested when they get sick, and others don’t have any symptoms.
“The Delta variant is very contagious and is the source of the current wave of pandemic across the United States. Locally, cases are increasing rapidly,” she said. “Even people who are fully vaccinated can contract the virus. “
Bogen repeatedly reiterated during the briefing that people who are fully vaccinated can still get sick in so-called breakthrough cases. She said the CDC estimates that about 20% of cases in Allegheny County over the past 28 days are people in this category.
“People vaccinated are likely to account for a larger portion of COVID-19 cases,” Bogen said.
Fitzgerald met with business, education and health leaders from across the region this week to share the county’s policy on the unvaccinated and discuss how employers, collectively, could further encourage immunization and protect more employees and constituents of their organizations.
Following the meeting, organizations such as the University of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Allegheny Health Network issued statements in support of the county’s efforts.
Regarding the hiring of new employees, Fitzgerald said that starting August 9, job applicants who have received conditional job offers with the county will need to be vaccinated as a condition of employment, subject applicable federal and state laws.
The potential employee will need to be fully immunized or have at least one injection of a series of two injections before starting work. Any employee who does not receive the second blow within 30 days will have their probationary employment terminated.
The county is also finalizing a testing protocol and plans to begin COVID testing of unvaccinated employees within the next 30 to 60 days. Testing will take place at least once a week and employees will also need to continue to wear face coverings.
Violations of policy could result in progressive discipline, up to and including termination, Fitzgerald said. The frequency of the tests will be determined according to the site. Additional measures to protect the public will be considered after a data review that begins October 1.
© 2021 Cox Media Group
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