Minnesota to require state employees to get vaccinated or go through weekly testing

Minnesota will now require state employees to either be vaccinated or go through weekly COVID-19 testing before returning to work. 

In a statement on Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced that state employees will have until Sept. 8 to show proof of vaccination, or they will have to attest to the weekly testing.

“Vaccination is the best way to keep employees and the people we serve safe and ensure the Delta variant does not derail our economic recovery,” Walz said in the statement 

“The state is leading by example and working to get our public employees vaccinated to protect themselves, their coworkers, and their communities. With this action, we’re joining businesses and colleges across the state who have taken this important step, and I urge other employers to do the same,” he added.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep us safe as the Delta variant spreads. Today, Minnesota is leading by example, joining businesses and colleges across the state in requiring our employees working in-person to get the vaccine or receive a negative COVID-19 test weekly.

— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) August 11, 2021

Minnesota’s new measure comes as coronavirus infections are rising in the country thanks to the highly contagious delta variant. 

New COVID-19 cases in the state are up 574 percent per week from a month ago, with the delta variant making up 90 percent of those cases, according to the statement. 

“Vaccination is the best tool we have available to minimize the impacts of COVID-19 and protect our workers, our organizations and our communities,” Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. “We encourage all Minnesotans to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.”