COVID-19: Unvaccinated Delhi government employees barred from attending office

In a big move, Delhi government employees who have not received even a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have been barred from attending office. The rule, announced in an order of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), will come into force on October 16.

The DDMA order stated that all such unvaccinated Delhi government employees, including teachers and frontline workers, will be treated as "on leave" till they receive the first dose of the vaccine.

The employees "who do not get vaccinated (at least first dose) by October 15 shall not be allowed to attend their respective offices/healthcare institutions /educational institutions with effect from October 16 till they have obtained the first dose vaccine," the order read.

The order lays down that the verification of the vaccination status of the employees shall have to be done through Aarogya Setu app or vaccination certificate by the respective heads of departments.

The order was signed by Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and it further stated that the employees of the Centre may also be barred from attending office.

The Central government "may consider issuing similar directions in respect of its employees working in Delhi," the order said.

Delhi Friday recorded 44 COVID-19 cases and zero deaths. The positivity rate in the national capital was recorded at 0.07 per cent.

So far in October, only one death due to COVID-19 has been recorded. In September, only five people had succumbed to the virus.

Delhi’s coronavirus tally has now increased to 14,39,097. Of these, more than 14.13 lakh patients have recovered and the overall death toll is at 25,088.