Public sector workers in N.L. must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 17
Newfoundland and Labrador will require all public sector workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-December or risk being suspended without pay.
The province announced its mandatory vaccination policy Friday, which allows for employer-approved medical exemptions based on the recommendations of a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
The vaccination requirement to take effect Dec. 17 will apply to all provincial government employees and to workers who serve vulnerable populations, including health-care workers, teachers and child-care providers. It will also apply to employees of businesses such as bars and restaurants where the government's vaccine passport is required.
"This is not a decision that we made lightly," Premier Andrew Furey told reporters. He said the highly contagious Delta variant has led officials to aim to vaccinate 90 per cent or more of those eligible for the shot. "Our vaccination policy is another tool to make this a reality ... and to make people feel safe," he said.
Officials said the vaccine mandate will also apply to any vendors, suppliers or contractors who regularly work with government employees.
Workers who fail to show proof of vaccination by Dec. 17 will be classified as "not adhering to the policy" and face being suspended without pay. The government said any new hires will need to be fully vaccinated by their starting date or risk having their job offer revoked.
Furey said there could be some wiggle room in applying the policy because "every job is not the same." He noted there could be some accommodation for people who work at home or who work in more isolated locations away from government offices.
The premier said the rules around penalties and enforcement are still being developed and could be released as early as next week.
A testing regime is also part of the policy. Officials were unable to clearly define when it would be used but said it could be invoked after a human rights ruling. Under the policy, unvaccinated workers would need to be tested twice a week, outside of regular working hours and at their own expense.
Officials said testing won't be required for people who have medical conditions preventing them from getting the vaccine.
Meanwhile, the province reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. With 11 recoveries also reported, the number of active cases fell to 53. Officials said nine people were in hospital due to novel coronavirus, including five in intensive care.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2021.
-- By Keith Doucette in Halifax
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Feature Report Fixed or variable? Advice from more than 50 brokers for Canadians whose mortgages are up for renewal
Over the next year-and-a-half, 44 per cent of all mortgages will be up for renewal in Canada. To help guide consumers through these uncertain financial times, CTV News reached out to more than 50 mortgage brokers across Canada with a list of questions. Their answers provide professional guidance for individuals and families searching for clarity and sound advice.
Airline loses Ontario woman's suitcase, doesn't offer compensation for 3 months
An Ontario woman who took a trip to Mexico in February said the airline lost her luggage on the flight home and didn’t compensate her for three months.
Bread, milk, apples: Federal NDP wants price cap for grocery store staples
The federal New Democrats want a price cap on grocery store staples if the Liberal government can't convince grocers to bring down the prices themselves.
Mourners can now speak to an AI version of the dead. But will that help with grief?
A 61-year-old startup entrepreneur teamed up with his friend in the U.S., Robert LoCascio, CEO of the AI-powered legacy platform Eternos. Within two months, they built "a comprehensive, interactive AI version" of Michael Bommer -- the company's first client.
Her gut was producing alcohol. Doctors didn't believe her
For two years doctors told her she was an alcoholic. Then they realized her gut was making alcohol from carbohydrates, a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome.
Paris Olympics: Opening athlete parade on a river, not in a stadium, tops list of innovations
Exactly 100 years since the Olympics were last staged in Paris, and 128 years since its modern revival in Athens, the Summer Games can still deliver fresh looks for its 33rd edition. Here is a look at the innovations the Paris Olympics will showcase.
North Korea's trash balloons deepen tensions with the South. Here's what's happening between rivals
Animosities between North and South Korea are rising sharply again over an unusual cause: The North's rubbish-carrying balloons.
Takeaways from Fauci's testimony at contentious U.S. House hearing on COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified on Monday at a House subcommittee hearing about the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus.
National Bank of Canada seizes Ont. woman's car by mistake
A university student woke up one morning to find her car had been towed away without warning. She finally got answers - just not the ones she expected.