NJ Child Care Workers Must Be Vaccinated Or Face Testing

NEW JERSEY — Anyone who works in a daycare in New Jersey must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by the beginning of November or face weekly testing, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday.

"This tracks with requirements that we have put in place for health care workers, state employees and educators and school workers," Murphy said during a news conference.

The order requires full vaccination by Nov. 1, which Murphy said means they should get their second shot no later than Oct. 17. Those who don't get vaccinated will be subject to testing once or twice a week.

It applies to all full-time and part-time employees, including, but not limited to, administrators, teachers, individuals providing food, custodial, and administrative support services, contractors, providers, and any other individuals performing work in covered settings whose job duties require them to make regular visits to such covered settings, including volunteers.

Regardless of whether the setting is providing workers with on-site access to testing or requiring workers to submit proof of a COVID-19 test, both antigen and molecular tests will be acceptable to fulfill the requirements of the Order.

Additionally, all employees, visitors, and students and children ages 2 and older will be required to wear masks while inside day care facilities effective Friday, Murphy said. It mirrors masking requirements in place for schools.

"We appreciate that it may be difficult to keep very young children in masks for the majority of the day, but we are looking for these settings to provide kids with as much support as necessary to ensure the safest possible environment," Murphy said. "We know that there are already many childcare providers that are already doing their utmost to protect the children in their care, their employees, and their communities, and we thank them. This order ensures that everyone is abiding by the same strong standards."

All full-time and part-time employees at all schools throughout the state, including public and private schools, as well as charter and renaissance schools are already required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or face weekly testing. Read more here: NJ Teachers, State Employees Must Be Vaccinated Or Face Testing

"We had always said that we would start with the most exposed elements of workforce, clientele, etc. and then expand out from there," Murphy said when asked why the mandate for daycare settings wasn't done at the same time as schools. "This is something that was always in the cards and we felt this was the right time to do it."

The first mandate was announced last month, and impacted many health care workers throughout the state. Employees in hospitals, correctional facilities, long-term care and assisted living facilities, specialty hospitals, in-patient rehab facilities and more will be required to be fully vaccinated or undergo testing at least once or twice a week by Sept. 7. Read more: COVID-19 Vaccines, Testing Now Mandatory For NJ Health Care Staff

As far as the mask mandate for daycare centers is concerned, Murphy said they are expecting those involved to "do the right thing. They are regulated, and that includes from a health perspective."

"There's some amount of habit that's already developed," Murphy said of the likely difficulty of convincing a 2-year-old child to leave their mask on for most of the day. "They've been seeing mom and dad, and maybe their older brother and sister wearing masks. We're going to have to do our best."