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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-910-9111
Today the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners adopted a requirement for employees, contractors, and volunteers to attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status and show proof of vaccination by October 1, 2021 or to comply with regular, mandatory COVID-19 testing.
This requirement applies to all Hennepin County employees, contractors, and volunteers who spend any time working in-person in a county facility or in the community on behalf of the county. Limited exceptions to this requirement include medical and religious reasons.
Why Hennepin County is taking this important step
Cases of COVID-19 are again increasing, and Hennepin County is experiencing high rates of community transmission. Hospitalization rates are also increasing.
Improving the rate of vaccination in the community is essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health.
“The vaccines are safe, and highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death,” says Hennepin County Public Health Director Susan Palchick, PhD, MPH. “Every person who gets vaccinated gets us closer to ending the pandemic.”
“We are proud to join the growing coalition of employers in Minnesota who are requiring vaccination,” says Board Chair Marion Greene, District 3 Commissioner. “By taking this action we hope to strengthen community norms around vaccination, and keep our employees and residents safe and healthy.”
Requiring vaccinations for employees is an important part of Hennepin County’s multi-layered approach to protect people, which includes requiring face coverings, maintaining physical distancing whenever possible, and working remotely. This policy helps protect the health and safety of our workforce, as well as the health and safety of clients, customers, visitors, and residents seeking Hennepin County services.
More about the requirement
To document their vaccination status, Hennepin County employees, contractors, and volunteers will complete an attestation form and show proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated staff members will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing and are responsible for obtaining and sharing their test results.
Hennepin County board votes to increase and extend the vaccine incentive program
Today the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners also approved $650,000 in funding to extend Hennepin County’s vaccine incentive program. As part of this incentive program, Hennepin County is offering $50 Visa gift cards to anyone who gets vaccinated at a Hennepin County vaccine clinic or event, while supplies last. County employees are eligible for this incentive, as well as the incentive offered by the State of Minnesota.
Find more information about the Hennepin County vaccine incentive program, and upcoming Hennepin County vaccine opportunities at hennepin.us/vaccineregistration.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
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