Colorado to Require Regular Testing for all Unvaccinated State Employees

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

Haga click aquí para leer la versión en español

Based on President Biden’s announcement, newly released information about the Delta variant, and the rise in community spread across the country, the Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) leaders informed new rules for state workers to make communities and workplaces safer. This Colorado policy enables state policy to be consistent with federal government employment policies.

“The state of Colorado has a responsibility to lead by example and to model workplace safety policies that reduce community spread and protect our workers and those who interact with them. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and highly effective even against the Delta variant, and we encourage all eligible Coloradans including state employees to get vaccinated. We need more help to end this pandemic and I know that our state employees can rise to the challenge just like families, individuals, and businesses across Colorado and our country are doing,” said Polis.

“I have heard from state employees who are terrified that their unvaccinated co-workers will give them COVID-19 and want vaccination mandated, and from other state workers who have hesitation towards the vaccine. I think this middle road is the right one to take, respecting the right of state workers to decide while also taking effective steps to address the legitimate safety concerns of fellow state workers,” the Governor added.

Using masks

Regular serial testing will be free and required twice weekly and will apply to all state workers (except those with verified vaccination status). Proof of testing and results must be submitted to human resources and be tracked facility by facility. The State will be working on plans to provide testing options to employees regardless of their location around the state. The State’s keep policy that unvaccinated employees must continue to wear a mask in in-door public areas.