The City of Owen Sound is implementing a COVID-19 Immunization Policy effective immediately for employees including Council members, City staff, Committee members, volunteers and students.

City employees will be required to be fully immunized by January 31, 2022, and receive any subsequently recommended boosters. Unimmunized employees will only be allowed into a City facility to work if they submit to regular antigen testing for COVID-19 and demonstrate a negative result.

New employees will be subject to the COVID-19 immunization policy as a condition of their employment.

The policy aligns with the recent recommendations for establishing a COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Policy from Dr. Ian Arra, Medical Officer of Health for the Grey Bruce Health Unit.

The City continues to follow Provincial mandated guidelines. All guests at City facilities are required to perform mandatory screening before entering the building.

Employees who are not able to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine for a reason related to a protected ground set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code, which includes confirmed medical reasons, will be considered for accommodation within the policy.

source: media release, City of Owen Sound