With COVID-19 surging in WA, Inslee announces vaccine mandates. Here’s who is affected

New COVID-19 vaccine mandates were announced Monday affecting state workers and health-care workers, including long-term care workers.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced the new statewide vaccine proclamation, which is to take effect immediately.

The new rules will require state workers and those in private health care and long-term care settings as well as other congregate settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to continue working, with employers verifying vaccine status of employees. The proclamation affects nursing homes, adult family homes, assisted living, enhanced services facilities, residential treatment facilities and other treatment facilities. Beyond full-time workers, it also covers contractors, volunteers and other positions that have any onsite presence at the health care sites or working with the state.

The total number of state and health care workers the proclamation covers is an estimated 460,000, Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah told reporters Monday.