Delta staff and volunteers are now required to be double-vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo regular testing as per the city’s freshly rolled-out vaccination policy.
Following council approving the mandatory vaccination policy in November and work from all of the city’s departments, the policy officially went into effect this Monday, Jan. 10.
Of Delta’s approximate 1,300 employees, only about 30 have either not yet received their second COVID-19 vaccination dose or did not submit their proof by Jan. 10, says City Manager Sean McGill.
“It’s about safety for staff, the public, anyone coming into our facilities. The Public Health Officer has been very clear over and over again that the best defence against COVID-19 – and even its variants – is through vaccination,” he said
Though there have been some concerns from certain individuals, the overall process of gathering everyone’s proof of vaccination and setting up testing plans was “quite positive,” McGill added.
Any employees who refuse to comply or provide false, misleading information, may be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, termination.
Employees who are unable to get vaccinated, and have discussed and justified their reasoning to the Director of Human Resources, are entitled to accommodation and may be required to work in alternative locations or positions, as well as be subject to more safety measures, reads the vaccination policy.
This mandatory vaccination policy for staff and volunteers follows earlier proof-of-vaccination policies at Delta recreation centres for all patrons 12-years and older, which went into effect Oct. 24.
“In consideration of these previous decisions and supporting rationale, to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, a workplace vaccination policy is an important measure that supplements our other workplace health and safety measures under our Communicable Disease Plan, including daily health screening, mandatory masking and physical distancing,” reads the Oct. 28 Delta staff report.
