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Coronavirus: Disney requiring US employees to be fully vaccinated

ORLANDO, Fla. — Disney employees already are required to be wearing masks at all U.S. sites. Now, they must be vaccinated.

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The Walt Disney Company announced Friday that it will require all salaried and non-union hourly employees who work at company sites nationwide to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, WFTV reported.

“Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees,” the statement said.

In its statement, Disney said employees who are not already vaccinated will have 60 days to do so.

Disney’s edict also includes any employees currently working from home, the company said in its statement. Employees will not be able to access any Disney site until they show verification of vaccines, Forbes reported.

This will include any employees that are currently working from home. Individuals will not be able to access any Disney site until verification of the vaccinations is seen.

“We have also begun conversations around this topic with the unions representing our employees under collective bargaining agreements,” Disney stated in its release.

>> Return of masks: Walt Disney World, Disneyland will require masks for guests starting Friday

All new hires also will be required to be fully vaccinated before starting work, Disney said.

Disney is the latest major company to require employee vaccinations. Earlier this week, Netflix announced that actors and those who come in close proximity to them, must be vaccinated, Variety reported. Companies like Facebook and Google have announced similar measures, according to Variety.

The announcement comes days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on masking guidelines, saying that agency had received new information showing the delta variant’s ability to spread among vaccinated people.

On Wednesday, Disney announced that masks will again be required indoors and in other locations starting Friday, WFTV reported.

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