California State University says students and staff must be fully vaccinated for fall semester

The California State University system will require faculty, staff and students to be vaccinated against Covid-19 for the coming school year if they are using campus facilities at any university location. 

The announcement comes amid rising cases of the coronavirus Delta variant in the state. California's health officials said Monday the Delta variant accounts for 83% of all COVID cases statewide, reports ABC 7 News. 

The Cal State system, with 23 campuses and about 485,000 students, is the nation's largest four-year public university system.

For students and staff opting not to receive the vaccine, the system's Covid-19 policy will allow them to seek medical and religious exemptions. Virtual courses will still be available to staff and students who want to continue their studies off campus. 

Vaccinations must be completed by Sept. 30, the university says in a news release. 

“The current surge in Covid cases due to the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant is an alarming new factor that we must consider as we look to maintain the health and well-being of students, employees and visitors to our campuses this fall," says Cal State chancellor Joseph I. Castro. “Receiving a Covid vaccine continues to be the best way to mitigate the spread of the virus. We urge all members of the CSU community to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and announcing this requirement now allows members of the CSU community to receive multiple doses of a vaccine as we head into the beginning of the fall term."

Several Cal State campuses are serving as host facilities for vaccine distribution.