NEW JERSEY — On Monday, Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order removing COVID-19 testing requirements for health care and gathering places.
The executive order overrides testing requirements established by prior executive orders for employees who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations in both settings. The executive order also removes vaccination requirements for employees in congregate care settings.
Healthcare facility employees will still be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination per Technical Order 294 to protect the high-risk populations they serve, which is supported by ongoing government requirements for Federal vaccination for most Medicare and Medicaid certified providers and providers.
“With vaccines and treatments available to help combat the effects of this virus and our state maintaining lower rates of key measures, New Jersey can continue to take steps to responsibly lift COVID-19 mitigation protocols. 19,” Governor Murphy said. “In accordance with federal recommendations, today’s executive order will maintain certain safety measures to protect vulnerable people in healthcare facilities and elevate others in recognition of the progress we have made in the fight against this virus since the peak of the pandemic. As always, I encourage all residents to stay up to date with their vaccinations and take other precautions as needed to protect themselves and their communities.”
The order follows the most recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which advise that routine screening is no longer recommended in certain high-risk settings, and that risk-based screening strategies help to inform COVID-19 response and mitigation strategies.
It also acknowledges COVID-19 vaccination rates and the availability of other treatments, which have helped the Garden State avoid a significant increase in hospitalizations and serious illnesses during the winter due to COVID-19.
Currently, more than 20 million primary and booster doses have been administered in New Jersey and more than 8 million residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Group care facilities include correctional facilities, group homes and day programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as some licensed psychiatric community homes. Health care facilities include, but are not limited to, long-term care facilities; psychiatric and specialized hospitals; long-term residential treatment centers for substance use disorders; clinical settings, such as federally licensed health centers and family planning sites; and community health care settings, such as pediatric and adult day care programs.
Individual employers may continue to require vaccination or testing protocols that exceed these state requirements.
New Jersey residents can access a copy of Executive Order 325 here.