The Colorado Board of Health has decided to end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in Colorado.
As of Thursday (July 14), Colorado healthcare workers are no longer required to get a COVID-19 vaccine—including healthcare employees, direct contractors and supporting staff.
However, roughly one-third of the state’s healthcare facilities will still require COVID-19 vaccination under a federal rule that applies to workplaces that accept Medicare and Medicaid insurance.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said roughly 1% of employees statewide quit over the vaccine mandate, but some rural hospitals are still dealing with the fallout.
Illinois Governor Eases COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing Requirements
Governor Pritzker issued an executive order on Wednesday (July 13) that will relax or end COVID-19 vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 testing requirements for many healthcare workers and colleges in Illinois.
The order states that unvaccinated workers in long-term care facilities with the most vulnerable residents, such as skilled nursing homes, will be required to test for SARS-CoV-2 weekly only if they are in an area of “moderate” transmission. If the facility is at a “high” transmission, workers must be tested twice weekly.
Moving forward, unvaccinated workers at hospitals and other Medicare-certified health care facilities will only have to be tested weekly if they are in an area of “high” transmission.
The governor also announced that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees and students at Illinois colleges has been lifted.
However, COVID-19 vaccine requirements will stay in place at K-12 schools, daycares, state-run assisted-living facilities, independent doctors’ offices, dental offices, urgent care facilities, and outpatient facilities.