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26.04.2022 / 20:29
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Philadelphia releases updated deadline for city police officers to get COVID-19 vaccine, request exemption
PHILADELPHIA - On Monday, the City of Philadelphia announced the new timeline for the implementation of the workforce vaccine mandate. According to an arbitration panel governing the mandate for employees represented by the Fraternal Order of Police, this is the final update on the matter. On February 1, the panel issued requirements, including a mandate for officers to be vaccinated by February 18. That mandate was delayed on February 28 and unvaccinated or partially vaccinated employees were not punished or placed on leave at that time. According to the panel, as of April 13, 97% of the Philadelphia Police Department have either been fully vaccinated, received at least a single dose or requested a medical or religious exemption. "Only a handful of active-duty officers remain out of compliance with the City's COVID-19 vaccination mandate policy as of Wednesday, April 13," a release from the City said. Under the new timeline, employees who do not provide proof of at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or a request for exemption by May 31 will be placed on Unvaccinated Leave beginning June 6. Employees who are currently on leave must comply with the mandate by May 31.Unvaccinated employees will be required to follow additional protocols including, double-masking, wearing an N95 mask or submitting to routine COVDI-19 testing. ___RELATED HEADLINESEmployees who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by May 31 will have 14 days of the schedule prescribed for the vaccine they received. For employees whose exemption requests were denied, 10 calendar days will be given to file for an appeal.