Local govt of India's Punjab to send unvaccinated employees on compulsory leave

NEW DELHI: The local government in the northern Indian state of Punjab announced Friday that it would send its employees on compulsory leave if they have not taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The decision was announced by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh during the COVID-19 review meeting with the state's top officers.

The order would come into force from Sept. 15.

"Punjab government employees failing to take even the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine for any reason other than medical will be compulsorily sent on leave after Sept. 15," said an official statement.

The measure was aimed at protecting the people of the state from the disease, and ensuring that those who are vaccinated do not have to pay the price for continued vaccine hesitancy of those who are not, according to the statement.

Singh said vaccine effectiveness was evident from the data being analyzed.

"Special efforts were taken to reach out to government employees, and those who continue to avoid getting vaccinated will now be asked to go on leave till they get the first dose," the statement said.

Singh also allowed teaching and non-teaching school staff who have taken at least one dose of vaccine more than four weeks ago to resume duties, subject to submission of weekly reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) negative test reports. However, all those with co-morbidities shall only be allowed once they are fully vaccinated.

India's federal health ministry reported on Friday 34,973 new COVID-19 cases and 260 related deaths during the past 24 hours in the country.