Employers continue to ease on COVID-19 safety measures
Yukon will continue to require COVID-19 vaccination for employees, contractors and volunteers working in high-risk settings in the territory starting April 4, according to the local government.
“While we are fortunate to be in a position to lift public health measures, our top priority remains protecting the health and safety of Yukoners,” said Premier Sandy Silver. “We are taking the necessary steps to protect the most vulnerable Yukoners accessing services in high-risk settings along with the staff that serve them. I want to thank everyone working in these settings for their efforts over the past two years and their commitment to keeping our most vulnerable Yukoners safe.”
The policy will be in effect in high-risk settings, including:
- long-term care homes;
- residential substance use programs;
- hospitals;
- shelters;
- residential care for children and adults;
- correctional centres;
- Yukon government-operated community health centres; and
- Yukon government-operated public health clinics, including the referred care clinic
The policy will apply to current workers as well as any new workers in these settings. In non-government high-risk settings, employers will continue to be required to implement policies for employees, contractors and volunteers to be vaccinated as appropriate for their settings.
As of March 16, 2022, 95 per cent of Yukon government employees have attested to being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Previously, WorkSafeBC announced it is posting COVID-19 safety plan resources online, including sector-specific protocols, checklists, planning templates, education and training materials, signage, and other tools to help out employers in preparing to reactivate their COVID-19 safety plans.
Yukon’s announcement came as employers continue to ease on COVID-19 safety measures.
GM Canada has dropped its indoor mask mandate, according to a report from GM Authority. However, its vaccine requirement remains in place. Masks will also still be required at GM Canada operations in Quebec.
“We ask that everyone continue to self-evaluate their health and not come to work if they are unwell,” according to the report, citing a memo delivered to employees this week.
Wearing a COVID-protective mask is set to become a matter of “personal choice” rather than an obligation as early as the end of March, Quebec's interim public health previously said.
In Alberta, Edmonton Public School Board lifted a policy that would have required trustees to be fully vaccinated against the virus causing COVID-19. The board voted 7-2 to suspend the policy, reported Edmonton Journal.
“We were in this in-between stage where we hadn’t yet made those revisions to the trustee handbook,” explained Board chairwoman Trisha Estabrooks, according to the report. “If we want to bring it back, then we would enact and pass those pieces of the trustee handbook, which would then put the policy into place.”
The majority (64 per cent) of Canadians support proof of vaccination at places like restaurants and theatres in their community, according to a report from the Angus Reid Institute.
