86% of City of Regina employees vaccinated ahead of having to pay for their own COVID-19 tests

Amajority of City of Reginaemployeesarefully vaccinated ahead of a change in policy that will see unvaccinated workersbear the cost of weekly COVID-19 tests.

In a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, city administration saidthat as of Oct. 21 they've asked 97 per cent of their approximately 2,500employees todisclose their vaccination status.

Roughly 2085 employees,or 86 per cent, have disclosed that they're fully vaccinated.

The city saida breakdown by department wasn't available.

TheRegina Police Service (RPS)is not included in the totals.The city saidRPS is handling its own testing and vaccination procedures.

The RPS currentlyrequires employees to be fully vaccinated or submit a negative test at the beginning of their work week.

In an email, a spokesperson for the RPS saidmore than 95 per cent of its606 employees (414 sworn officers and 192 civilians) have provide proof of vaccination.

The police service said it is currently using rapid tests for employees, withno associated costs.

Changes coming for city employees

Since October, Regina has been paying for testing its unvaccinated employees, but that's about to change.As of mid-November, city employees will need to cover the cost of their own weekly tests.

The city said it wasn't able to provide an estimate of how much it has spent on tests so far.

It saidcosts "will depend significantly on the number of tests the city is required to complete" and that it wasunable to provide costs until later this month.

The RPS said it has not yet decided whether itwill shift to making employees pay for tests, although that is under consideration.

Proof of vaccination expanded this week

As of Monday,all City of Regina facilities require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test for entry for anyone 12 and older.

The requirement applies to city hall, all leisure centres, indoor arenas, the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre,community centres and the Regina Floral Conservatory.

LISTEN| Regina rinks to require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test

The city has already been following thepublic health order implemented by the province on Oct. 1.

That had requiredproof of vaccination or a negative testfor visitors to recreation centres, community centres for fitness activities, city hall'scafeteria and arenas for ticketed sporting events for anyone over the age 18.

Essential services, including access to Regina Public Libraries, Regina Cemetery, Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery and Regina Transit, are exempt from theproof of vaccination requirement under the public health order.