Unvaccinated California Assembly employees risk losing jobs, speaker says

The speaker of California’s state Assembly says employees must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or they could lose their jobs, The Associated Press reported.

California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D) announced the new requirement Monday after nine employees in the state assembly tested positive for the virus in July. 

The new cases led lawmakers to bring back a mask mandate for employees to wear in the Capitol or district offices, according to AP. 

The new requirement states that all employees must be vaccinated by Sept. 1, though it allows exceptions for those who have religious or medical reasons not to take the vaccine. 

“By ensuring Assembly staff is vaccinated, we are protecting everyone who enters the Capitol, including constituents, lobbyists, and journalists,” Rendon said.

Rendon also said that already 80 percent of Assembly members have been fully vaccinated, the AP reported. 

California and the rest of the United States are dealing with surging case numbers because of the highly contagious delta variant.

The state of California is averaging 10,000 daily new COVID-19 cases with 7,200 people hospitalized due to the virus, the AP reported. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an order last month that requires all state employees to be vaccinated or submit to daily COVID-19 testing, the AP noted.