South Australian police officers who refused to get jabbed against COVID-19 can return to work after the state dropped its vaccine mandates for police on Monday morning.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens noted he was confident any risk to the force and members of the public can be “effectively managed through alternative controls” rather than unvaccinated staff being on enforced leave.
“Whilst the managerial direction enables unvaccinated employees to return to their substantive duties, there will be some limitations regarding their ability to attend some settings such as residential aged care facilities, disability facilities and the forensic science building,” he said.
The Police Workers Vaccination Direction, which was issued in November last year to ask all police officers to get the COVID-19 jab, was revoked from 7am on March 7.
The move is expected to bring 60 sworn personnel and 18 public servants who refused to get jabbed back to work. They could also be deployed in high-risk settings like aged care and disability facilities.
However, unvaccinated officers will need to undertake a rapid antigen test before reporting for duty and wear a respirator-style mask for the duration of shifts.
Source: The Epochtimes