By FOX 10 Staff
Governor Doug Ducey has signed an executive order banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employees, but healthcare institutions are exempt from the rule.
The governor issued an executive order on Dec. 15, stating “No person shall be required by this state, or any city, town or county to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine, but a health care institution licensed pursuant to A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 4 may require the institution’s employees to be vaccinated.”
RELATED: Arizona Legislature does away with COVID-19 restrictions in 2022, even as omicron surges
The order will not allow the state, counties or cities to implement requirements for their workers. It does, however, allow health care institutions to require vaccinations for their employees.
Ducey’s order comes one day after he announced more resources for Arizona hospitals that are dealing with staffing shortages and bed capacity.
The entire order, titled “Enhanced Surveillance Advisory,” mostly discusses increased monitoring of COVID-19 in nursing homes and a requirement for hospitals to continue providing sufficient staffing.