(Reuters) – California’s Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that healthcare workers and those working in high-risk congregate settings will be required to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine by February 1. This is part of California’s response against the transmissible Omnicron variant.

Following a Sept. 30, mandate that state workers must be fully vaccinated, the mandate is effective immediately. Workers have had the option to apply for exemptions from vaccinations for medical, religious or other reasons.

State workers who haven’t received a booster need to be tested for COVID-19 at least twice a week, Newsom stated in a statement.

Newsom made the announcement in a statement and was scheduled to discuss the mandate at a later press conference on Wednesday.

California, which is home to more than 65.5% of all US states, surpasses the national standard for complete vaccinations. But, California, with just below 30% for booster shots, slightly falls short of the national norm, according the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additionally, all students in public schools, kindergarten through 12th grades, will get a fast COVID-19 testing before returning to school following winter break.

Newsom also announced that the state will increase operating hours at state-operated testing centres which have exceeded their capacity.