Unvaccinated Govt Staff To Be Sent On Compulsory Leave In This State

State government employees who fail to take even the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be sent on compulsory leave after September 15.

That’s the diktat issued in Punjab by chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Friday.

The decision was taken at a high-level virtual COVID review meeting where the CM cited inoculation and infection data to highlight vaccine efficacy. It is meant to ensure that those who have taken the jab don’t have to pay the price of vaccine hesitancy, the chief minister’s office (CMO) stated.

“Special efforts were taken to reach out to Government employees, and those who continue to avoid getting vaccinated will now be asked to go on leave till they get the first dose,” the CMO said in a release.

Teaching and non-teaching school staff, who have got at least one dose of the vaccine over four weeks ago, will be allowed to resume duty. They will, however, have to submit negative RT-PCR reports every week.

Though the coronavirus situation is under control in Punjab, Capt. Singh announced an extension of existing COVID restrictions in the state till September 30 because of upcoming festival season.