Baltimore County Workers To Get COVID-19 Vaccines Or Weekly Tests

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County is implementing a new policy in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

As the delta variant has led to a rapid increase in cases of COVID-19, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said he was requiring county employees who have not been vaccinated against the virus to get tested for COVID-19 weekly.

"We have a significant rate of transmission in our community," Olszewski said at a news conference Thursday. "The rapid and ongoing spread of the delta variant demands that we take additional action to stop the spread and protect the health of both our employees and residents alike."

The new policy will require employees by Oct. 15 to submit proof of full or partial vaccination against COVID-19. They also may submit a waiver request for medical or religious reasons, according to a statement from the county.

Those who choose to not be vaccinated or who have an approved waiver must be tested for COVID-19 weekly.

A little more than 9,000 employees work for Baltimore County government, according to County Administrative Officer Stacy Rodgers.

More than 61 percent of county employees have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of this week, Rodgers said at the news conference Thursday, Sept. 9, outside the county courthouse in Towson.

Employees will be able to start submitting paperwork verifying their vaccination status Oct. 1.

Baltimore County's policy follows similar mandates announced by local governments in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City.

Olszewski said President Joe Biden was expected to make a similar announcement for federal employees Thursday. The county executive urged other governments and agencies to follow suit.

"As we ask our employees to get vaccinated, I likewise encourage our businesses in Baltimore County to ask the same of their employees," Olszewski said. "I asked the state to ask the same of their employees."

See Also:

• Anne Arundel To Require Vaccines For County Workers, Masks In Government Buildings
• Baltimore Employees Required To Get COVID-19 Vaccine

Fully vaccinated people can still get sick from the delta variant, but they appear to be less sick and are less infectious than unvaccinated individuals.

"I urge all residents of Baltimore County to get the vaccine if they have not already done so," Olszewski said.

As of Thursday, Sept. 9, the Maryland Department of Health reports 59.695 percent of residents in Baltimore County have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Everyone age 12 and up is eligible.

Visit baltimorecountymd.gov/vaccine to find a clinic for the COVID-19 shot or contact local urgent care, pharmacy or primary care providers. The vaccine is free.

"To be clear, vaccinations are the best pathway back to normal," Olszewski said. "They're the best option we have to keep our kids in the classroom five days a week. The vaccines are safe, and they are effective. We know they work."

An increase in case rates and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 prompted the county executive to declare a Baltimore County state of emergency on Aug. 24.

That came after Baltimore County began requiring masks in county government buildings Aug. 10, and Baltimore County Public Schools required face coverings indoors as of Aug. 13 to curb the spread of the virus.

The delta variant is more than two times as contagious as previous variants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which reports it is the predominant strain of the virus in the United States.

"To maximize protection from the delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, get vaccinated as soon as you can and wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission," the CDC recommends.

Related:

• Delta Variant Sparks State Of Emergency In Baltimore County
• Baltimore County Council Extends State Of Emergency: Report

Requiring county employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 was another step Baltimore County was taking to protect the health of residents and workers, officials said.

“Vaccinations are still our best tool in our ongoing fight against COVID-19 and I want to thank all our public employees who are joining us to lead by example to protect ourselves and our loved ones across Baltimore County," Olszewski said. "Public health is a shared responsibility, and we each have to do our part in order to protect the health and wellbeing of our workforce and the public we serve."