Washington state to mirror contentious federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Inslee says

Washington state will retain rules in President Joe Biden’s embattled COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large employers, Gov. Jay Inslee said during a Thursday press conference. The mandate calls for businesses with more than 100 workers to require employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or test weekly for COVID-19. President Joe Biden detailed the policy on Nov. 4 but it has since been paused by challenges in federal courts from Republican officials in 27 states, employers and several organizations. Inslee said his office is monitoring the situation.