COVID-19: City of London Adds New Testing Measures to Employee Vaccine Policy

The COVID-19 Immunization Policy for City Workers in London, Ontario has been reinforced with new measures targeting those who have successfully applied for exemptions.

The policy had given employees until September 29 to provide evidence of full vaccination against the virus or evidence of an exemption for medical reasons or the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Those who received only one dose by September 29 had to be fully vaccinated by November 1 or risked “immediate removal from active duty,” according to a copy of the policy sent to the city council in September.

The day after the November 1 deadline, city officials announced that 19 full-time and 24 casual employees had been placed on 30 days of unpaid leave for non-compliance with the policy.

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COVID-19: 43 city workers in London, Ontario. on unpaid leave due to the vaccination policy

On Monday, City of London officials announced they were adding new measures for those who have provided evidence of a vaccination waiver but are still getting into the workplace.

These people are now subjected to a rapid antigen test at least twice a week.

If the test is positive, they will not be able to get to work and may face a relocation to remote work, reassignment, or a leave of absence.

“This will affect 129 employees across the company,” city officials said in an email to Global News.

In addition to testing requirements, the city will also strengthen screening protocols for urban workplaces and increase the use of personal protective equipment.

The city says it consulted with the Middlesex-London Health Unit to see if booster vaccination should be included in vaccination policy.

Acting health doctor Dr. Alex Summers responded that a booster vaccination was not required as the province did not require a third dose for someone to be considered fully vaccinated, the city said.

The policy review and change is related to the recent spike in new COVID-19 cases across the province, as well as the rise of the Omicron variant, according to city manager Lynne Livingstone.

“These additional measures are being taken to contain the spread and protect our employees and the community during this developing phase of the pandemic,” added Livingstone.

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