Allegheny County to Require Covid-19 Vaccination for All New Hires

Allegheny County will make the covid-19 vaccination a requirement for new hires going forward, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Thursday.

“We are not going to hire anyone in the future who does not have a vaccination card,” he said, noting that the county hires between 500 and 1,000 people each year.

Current county employees who are not vaccinated will be required to wear masks while on the job and be tested for covid-19 at least once a week, Fitzgerald said.

The new policies take effect Monday. They apply to employees of the executive, including contract employees.

“We have over 6,000 employees who serve the public – who come into contact with the public on a daily basis in a number of ways,” said Fitzgerald. “We want to make sure that those who come in contact, whom we serve, feel safe. “

On the other hand, he said, county employees should feel safe working with their colleagues.

He said the county offered a $ 100 incentive to employees who received the vaccine and presented proof of vaccination. About two-thirds of county employees have received the vaccine.

“Unfortunately, about a third of our county employees did not,” he said.

In addition to the mask requirement – which includes when an unvaccinated employee is in a county vehicle with another employee and out when social distancing is not an option – they will be tested ” permanently, ”Fitzgerald said.

“At least once a week and in many cases twice a week,” he said.

Unvaccinated visitors to the Allegheny County Courthouse will be required to wear a mask.

“We’re going to be using the honor system at this point,” Fitzgerald said. “We hope most people will respect those who enter the courthouse. “