Unvaxxed workers set to return to vulnerable sectors Monday with no set guidelines
CBC
Hundreds of New Brunswickers who are unvaccinated, or who failed to provide proof they are vaccinated against COVID-19, are scheduled to return to their jobs in vulnerable sectors across the province on Monday. But what mitigation measures they will have to follow remains unclear.
This includes about 250 government employees who work in Horizon and Vitalité hospitals, for Extra-Mural/Ambulance NB and in corrections, as well as more than 100 nursing home employees.
"There is great concern" among nursing home operators, said Norm Bossé, the new CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes.
"They don't want their residents to be infected by anybody, especially the non-vaccinated who may be coming back."
On April 1, the province announced it was dropping its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees in vulnerable sectors, effective April 11.
Employees who were placed on unpaid leave last fall for either being unvaccinated or failing to provide proof of full vaccination could return to work, it said, provided they follow all mitigation measures required by their employer, based on Public Health guidance, until they are fully vaccinated.
The change also applies to nursing homes and adult residential homes licensed by the Department of Social Development.
As of late Friday afternoon, however, nursing homes were still awaiting the mitigation measures from the province, said Bossé.
"We thought we'd have them yesterday. We don't have them yet. They are working on them."
The Department of Social Development is still waiting to hear from Public Health, according to spokesperson Rebecca Howland.
"Public Health has been working to establish the mitigating measures, including a clarification on the current definition of full or up-to-date vaccinations," she said in an emailed statement. "Other measures, such as masking and testing, will also be clarified.
"As soon as we receive the directives from Public Health, the department will share them with all licensed facilities across the province, as well as the associations."
Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane was unable to provide any answers either.
"I have asked the team for this precise information and I am waiting to hear back," he said.
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