Moving

State Will Require COVID Booster Pictures For All Well being Care Employees – CBS San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF / AP) – Citing the growing outbreak of the highly contagious variant of Omicron across the country and California, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on social media that health workers in the state are now COVID. must get booster shots.

In a Twitter video post, Newsom said it was taking steps to ensure there were enough healthy medical staff to handle a possible post-holiday surge in new cases.

CONTINUE READING: San Francisco’s popular Zuni Cafe requires COVID booster proof from diners

“We all watch the news and have heard what President Biden said today about what was happening across the country and the rest of the world with the Omicron variant,” said the governor. “It’s not dissimilar to what’s happening here in the state of California. As a result, we are stepping up our efforts to get people vaccinated, but also to empower people. That’s why we’re going further today and calling for all healthcare workers to be reinforced – get the third admission, or at least the second admission when you get the J&J. “

By February 1, health care workers and all employees in high-risk community facilities, including nursing homes, must have their booster vaccinations. In the meantime, all health care workers who haven’t received their booster vaccinations will have to test for COVID-19 twice a week until they are up to date on their vaccines.

The booster mandate was part of the three-part plan launched at a press conference Wednesday morning to combat the recent surge in infections.

The other two parts of the plan are designed to keep schools open and students in the classroom:

  • Expansion of test access and receipt of 1-2 quick tests for each public school student when the children go back to school
  • Increase in test times for state-operated locations to expand capacity

In early December, the California Department of Health distributed approximately 2 million tests to schools so that students can be tested when they return to school from winter break.

“The state is also redoubling our efforts to protect children and keep schools open,” said the governor. “We will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities by providing test kits at home for every student in the K-12 public school when they return to the classroom from their winter break.”

Newson said there are now 191 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in California and those numbers are accelerating.

“We are holding ourselves strong (in terms of the total number of new COVID cases) but we cannot take anything for granted,” said the governor.

CONTINUE READING: COVID: Omicron Variant Throws Large Wrench Into Bay Area Vacation Plans

California already requires health care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, a policy that went into effect in September and has since resulted in the layoff or suspension of thousands of people. Now, after New Mexico, it will be at least the second state to require booster injections for healthcare workers.

Last week, Newsom, who issued the first statewide shutdown order in March 2020, warned that cases were likely to increase and reintroduced a rule requiring everyone to wear masks at public gatherings indoors.

The concern stems from the surge in Omicron, which has been the dominant variant of the coronavirus in the United States since Monday. Areas in the Midwest and Northeast have seen the greatest spikes in cases and hospital admissions in freezing temperatures that have kept people indoors.

Much about the variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less serious illnesses. Scientists say Omicron spreads more easily than other strains of coronavirus, including Delta. Early studies suggest that those vaccinated need a third vaccination to prevent infection, but even without the extra dose, the vaccination should still offer strong protection from serious illness and death.

California has fared far better than many other states so far. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list California, like almost everywhere else in the country, as a place with “high” transmission of the virus. But for the past week California had an average of 114 new cases per 100,000 population, less than half the national rate.

While 70% of Californians have been fully vaccinated, there are still 30% – or about 12 million people – who haven’t been vaccinated. The California Department of Health says people who are not vaccinated are seven times more likely to be infected, almost 13 times more likely to be hospitalized, and almost 16 times more likely to die from the coronavirus.

Coronavirus-related hospital admissions in California rose slowly, up 15% in the past 11 days to 3,852. That’s less than half what it was during the late summer peak and a fifth of a year ago before vaccines were widely available.

But while hospitals have fewer patients overall than last winter, many have fewer staff treating their patients. The staff shortage comes from the fact that companies have difficulty finding workers, including hospitals.

A recent study by the University of California-San Francisco estimates that the state’s nursing staff shortage could persist through 2026.

MORE NEWS: COVID: Bay Area pharmacies struggle to stock rapid tests during the holidays, Omicron

© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button