HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – State employees have until midnight to provide proof of vaccination or comply with weekly testing, or they could be placed on unpaid leave.
Along with the 23,000 who are fully vaccinated, 5,000 employees have agreed to weekly COVID testing; however, Gov. Ned Lamont’s office said less than 3,000 are currently non-compliant.
Gov. Ned Lamont is calling on the National Guard to plan for state active duty deployment if needed due to workers not being compliant with the state’s vaccine or testing mandate.
Those workers could be placed on unpaid leave this week, with the National Guard filling any staffing shortages.
“Right now I’m pretty confident state employees are doing the right thing getting vaccinated or getting tested; taking care of the people most in need and doing it safely,” Lamont said.
State employee Irena Bajwright said most of the employees within her agency submitted their vaccination status, herself included.
“I think it’s very important for the health of all Connecticut citizens that we follow the mandate, and it should be enforced,” Bajwright said. “We’ve been given guidance on how to address it with our employees. So, I happen to work in human resources.”
If workers don’t either get the vaccine or agree to weekly testing, they’re at risk of being placed on unpaid leave as early as Oct. 5.
“It should be a choice, and a lot of people could lose their jobs right now that need to be working,” said Dan Decarlo of Rocky Hill.
“I don’t believe a vaccine should be forced upon anybody. It’s a matter of choice,” said Kim Odell, also of Rocky Hill.
As the National Guard prepares to go where needed, state employees are also preparing for any changes.
“We know that ‘D day,’ if you will, is coming…
Read More: Deadline for state employee vaccinations is midnight | Connecticut News