COVID-19 Vaccinations. Photo courtesy of CKPH.COVID-19 Vaccinations. Photo courtesy of CKPH.
Windsor

Essex to consider dropping COVID-19 vaccination policy early

Town councillors in Essex could rescind the municipality's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy Monday night.

Councillors imposed it last October. They agreed to review it every three months, with the last one in January. They weren't expected to look at it again until April.

However, with hospitalization rates falling, a report to the council suggests dropping the policy sooner.

If councillors agree, COVID-19 vaccination would cease to be a job requirement as of Tuesday.

About 96.5 per cent of town staff are fully vaccinated. Only 0.5 per cent are partially, and three per cent haven't had a shot.

Across the region, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit said on Thursday that 83.1 per cent of residents five and older had had both doses, and 54 per cent 18 and up had had three.

If hospitalization rates shoot upwards again, the town has the option to reinstate the policy.

Ontario is dropping more restrictions as of Monday, including the masking requirement in most public indoor spaces after it ended the proof of vaccination rules inside bars and restaurants earlier this month. All restrictions could be lifted on April 27.

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