LOS ANGELES – Chair Hilda L. Solis released the following statement after issuing an Executive Order requiring all Los Angeles County employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19:

“Today, the County is reporting another 3,734 new cases, 1,242 hospitalizations, and tragically, 16 deaths. When the County marked its re-opening on June 15, there were only 210 confirmed cases, fewer than 220 were hospitalized with COVID-19, and the positivity rate sat at an incredibly low 0.6%. However, with the rapid spread of the Delta variant, our daily cases have increased nearly eighteen-fold and hospitalizations more than five-fold. As vaccinations continue at a pace slower than what is necessary to slow the spread, the need for immediate action is great.

That is why today, as Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, I am issuing an Executive Order to require all County employees, regardless of the Department they serve, to be fully vaccinated no later than October 1, 2021, with exemptions for medical and religious purposes. This timeline gives our employees the time they need to consult with their healthcare providers, while moving expeditiously to protect the health and safety of our 110,000 workers.

Additionally, we are once again demonstrating to employers across the County that we are prepared to lead by example and set a standard for slowing the spread – just as we did when reinstating indoor masking, which has since been emulated by varying degrees by the CDC, the State, and localities across the country. We must all be prepared to come together and do our part to protect one another and get this virus under control once more. We cannot wait another day as this virus continues to upend and dramatically alter the lives of our residents. With today’s Executive Order, the County is prepared to lead, and I am hopeful other employers across our great County do the same.”

To view the Executive Order, click here.

The order was ratified by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, August 10th at the regularly scheduled board meeting.