Allegheny County Mandates Vaccinations For New Employees

Pittsburgh PA

05 August, 2021

3:50 PM

Description

PITTSBURGH, PA — Allegheny County beginning next week will require new hires to be vaccinated and will mandate current unvaccinated employees to wear masks and be tested regularly for the coronavirus. Unvaccinated visitors to county facilities will be asked to mask themselves when indoors. Masks are not mandatory for fully vaccinated county workers and visitors. "Vaccination is the most effective tool that we have to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect those who for reasons of age, health or other conditions cannot be vaccinated," county Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Thursday. "As a government and essential service which has been open throughout the pandemic, with the vast majority of our employees here working, vaccination is the best way for to ensure that the public we serve is protected. With this new policy, the public can have confidence that the measures we are taking will protect their health and well-being." Fitzgerald met Wednesday with corporate, educational and health leaders from the region to share details of the new policy. He subsequently received written support for it from the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, Highmark Health and the Allegheny Health Network, Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Tech Council. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.