August 5, 2021 3:10 a.m.

On Wednesday, Governor Kate Brown announced that she has directed the Oregon Health Authority to issue a rule outlining new, required health and safety measures for personnel in health care settings.

A release said the rule requires weekly COVID-19 testing which can be waived with a proof of vaccination. The new rule will be issued this week. The requirement to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing will apply starting September 30th. The release said this will give employers time to prepare for implementation and give currently unvaccinated health care workers time to get vaccinated.

Brown said, “The more contagious Delta variant changed everything. This new safety measure is necessary to stop Delta from causing severe illness among our first line of defense: our doctors, nurses, medical students and frontline health care workers”.

Brown’s announcement was praised by the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, and by the Oregon Hospital Association.

The release said state law currently prohibits employers from independently mandating vaccines for certain limited categories of workers including health care workers. That is an issue Brown hopes to address in next year’s session of the Oregon State Legislature.