As a new surge attributed to the Delta variant takes hold throughout the State, nursing home residents and their families may be relieved to hear that California has issued the nation’s first order requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers.

The new order, issued August 5, mandates that employees of hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities have until September 30 to get their first dose of a one-dose regimen or their second dose of a two-dose regimen. The new rule permits exceptions only for religious reasons or for certain rare medical conditions.

California also ordered visitors to hospitals, skilled nursing homes and facilities for the developmentally disabled to be fully vaccinated or show a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before each visit. The order applies only to indoor visits and took effect on August 11.