Gov. Tim Walz Announces Vaccine Mandate For MN State Workers

MINNESOTA — State of Minnesota workers will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before returning to the workplace, Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday.

State employees who work in person will be required to show proof of vaccination by Sept. 8. State employees who refuse to be vaccinated must test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week.

"Vaccination is the best way to keep employees and the people we serve safe and ensure the Delta variant does not derail our economic recovery," Walz said in a news release.

"The state is leading by example and working to get our public employees vaccinated to protect themselves, their coworkers, and their communities. With this action, we’re joining businesses and colleges across the state who have taken this important step, and I urge other employers to do the same."

The state of Minnesota is the latest entity to require vaccinations as the delta variant drive case spikes and hospitalizations across the nation. New cases are up 574 percent per week compares to one month ago, according to the latest state numbers.

The delta variant makes up 90 percent of new cases in Minnesota, according to sequence testing.

"Vaccination is the best tool we have available to minimize the impacts of COVID-19 and protect our workers, our organizations and our communities," said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

"We encourage all Minnesotans to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible."

Latest news related to the delta variant spike:

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