Unvaccinated civil servants to do PCR test every two weeks

Civil servants who have not completed the recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be mandated to undergo a PCR test every two weeks.

In a circular publicized by the Civil Service Commission today regarding the guidelines to reopen government offices – it was stated that those civil servants who have not completed a single dose of the vaccine can only be able to attend offices after presenting a negative PCR test starting from September 1.

The circular also detailed that they will be mandated to undergo a PCR test every 14 days following this as per orders of the Director General of Public Health.

Hence, Civil Service Commission urged all Civil Servants who are eligible to get vaccinated to complete their vaccinated as soon as possible.

They also added that they have instructed government offices to enforce these measures against eligible persons who have not gotten vaccinated starting from September 1.

Prior to this, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also advised all civil servants to complete their vaccination. Moreover, the authorities have decided to enforce stricter measures against unvaccinated employees as well in order to encourage vaccination.

In this regard, a proposal has been allegedly submitted to revise the existing regulations so that the leave taken by unvaccinated persons in order to undergo a quarantine period is deducted from their annual leave.

Starting from September, unvaccinated persons will also be barred from entering cafes/restaurants, gyms, salons, and schools.

Five school teachers have already been temporarily suspended for failure of getting vaccinated by the Education Ministry.

At present, 80 percent of the eligible population have received their first dose – out of which 69 percent have gotten their second dose as well.