“We think this is the right thing to do and we think this is a sustainable way to keeping our schools open and to address the number one anxiety that parents like myself have — I have four young children — and that is knowing that the schools are doing everything in their power to keep our kids safe, to keep our kids healthy, and that is what we’re doing here in the state of California,” Newsom said. [View the video below]
“Today we feel is a responsible step in the direction to continue to maintain that stewardship and that focus on getting to where we all want to go, and that’s extinguishing this virus once and for all,” Newsom said.
He again touted the state’s higher-than-average vaccination rate — 77.5% of all eligible residents receiving at least one dose — but said, “It’s not good enough. We have more work to do.” Newsom said he hopes the requirement “will begin a process of significantly increasing vaccination rates” statewide.
“We believe this will be well-received,” Newsom said. “Not everybody will be overwhelmed by this, but we think it will be well-received, because it’s the right thing to do to keep our most precious resource healthy and safe, our children here in the state.”
The vaccination-or-testing requirement already has the support of the Service Employees International Union, which represents thousands of school workers across the state.
“We share Governor Newsom’s commitment to increasing the rate of vaccination so we can better protect the students and families we serve from sickness and death, and prevent the virus from spreading to our own families and communities, and we support public health measures such as this which are designed to do so while giving workers a choice,” said Max Arias, an executive board member of SEIU California. “Worker-led school safety protocols have created the model for safe school reopening, and many school workers have already created similar agreements.”
Larry Elder, a conservative talk show host considered a leading candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial recall election, wrote on Twitter that he would reverse the order if he becomes governor.
“Encouraging vaccination is fine. Government mandating it is not,” Elder wrote on Twitter, although Newsom’s order would not be a vaccine mandate since workers have the option of weekly testing.
Fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox said, “Instead of more mandates, we should be giving parents greater choice when it comes to schools.”
Newsom has come under some fire from some groups for another statewide school mandate — mask-wearing. The governor has brushed off criticism, saying last week, “We want to keep our kids safe.”
“We want them back in person for in-person instruction,” Newsom said. “We don’t want our kids back on Zoom school. We don’t want our kids back online with all the disparities that were self-evident in another classroom I was in when I asked them how their download speeds are. And the fact that a young child, in first-grade, is talking about download speeds suggests everything you need to know about the nature of the impact of this pandemic and how disproportionate it has been.”
Newsom said he expects school districts across the state to follow all safety recommendations, which he said “are in line with the CDC and aligned with the American Academy of Pediatrics, which I’m more interested in their counsel and advice than, respectfully, those that are seeking to move in the direction of Florida and other states.”
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Ignacio P. says
Now we all know who the real nazi’s are. The demonrats and rinos are doing their damndest to make America do a nazi Germany rerun. The sheep are willingly getting their Mark of the Beast. May God help us all.
Tim Scott says
We know indeed…arrest warrants for political opponents, “only the party members get to vote” laws, purity testing for party membership including fealty to the demagogic leader, violent attack on the Reichsta…errr capitol building (okay, they were thwarted on this one so far)…
Yup. The GOP has got it all.
G0dthinksyouredumb says
You bible thumpers kill me. I’ve heard this mark of the beast sh!t since the 80s about different things… just stfu with that nonsense. How about thinking of the fact fact your g0d blessed humans enough to discover a vaccine to help cure the world.. let’s put that into perspective… I bet your G0d won’t have any issues letting you die on a ventilator..
Trumpist#1 says
Bless you, my son!
Go Away says
Rex is spreading misinformation again. Disclosure here, I am all for getting the vaccine. I got mine.
Rex is saying that his ‘doctors’ are telling him that if you don’t get the vaccine, you WILL get COVID. Not might get COVID. Not have a higher likelihood of getting COVID. Rex is spreading the lie that you WILL get COVID.
Getting the vaccine is your best protection against getting COVID, other than complete and total isolation from everyone. Not everyone who chooses not to get the vaccine will get COVID. The worse pandemics and plagues in human history did not affect everyone.
Just like he does with global warming, bird sounds, LEAPS, Traction Seal, and now COVID, Rex takes everything to its most sensational conclusion. Global warming is real, but we’re not all going to die. Bird sounds do not lower crime citywide. LEAPS does not lower crime. Traction Seal is not a real fix for roads and cities across the southwest are not clamoring for it. COVID is real and getting vaccinated offers excellent protection, but not everyone who is unvaccinated is going to get it. The question to those who are unvaccinated is do you want to take the chance of getting it? That is their choice.
Rex’s choice should be to retire to his beach mansion in Laguna, play with his grandchildren, and leave the hard working people of Lancaster alone and free from his strange thinking and policies.
Tim Scott says
Insightful. I bet you’re a huge hit at parties.
Crossroads says
Yes plus all the people that love the mask just gives adults a better reason to molest kids with no recognition way to go idiot’s….. And by the way y are vaccinated people still scared with the mask on oghhhh yes I forgot Bunch of liberals waaaaa waaaaaa they’re not wearing the mask waaaaaa waaaaaa
Overit says
I’m Republican and think all you dumb@ss that refuse the vaccine should have to pay for your own test. This isnt a political conspiracy, no controlling the population. If all the bs information that’s available today was available when polio was around… it would still exist today… you idots swear you’re smarter than the scientist and Doctors..
Stinger says
Bravo!
Rolcon says
“I’m Republican“
No you’re not.
William says
You’re so right, Rockon
Republicans don’t speak the truth and Overit did.
Tim Scott says
lololol…and the “purity test” is applied once again. Overit probably has been a Republican, but y’all keep on kicking out anyone that isn’t “all in” with the seemingly endless stream of lies and nonsense Trump has embroiled you in. As a (long since) former Republican I LOVE to see the party imploding. Y’all have gotten WAY too dangerously delusional.
Good says
They should also make the teachers pay for their own testing if they aren’t vaccinated as well, goes for all working adults that arent vaccinated..No payment plan, just full price right out their check . I bet vaccination rates go up real fast too..
Tim Scott says
I read today that one of the big banks has a “vax or test” policy and if you test positive the leave for quarantine will be without pay.
FatWhiteBob says
Every person who works in the public sector should be required to vaccinate or forfeit their employment without further compensation.