All things Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

[OceanBonfire]

Greece said on Tuesday it would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for people aged 60 and over in a move to quell a resurgent virus that is burdening a frail healthcare system.

Authorities said those who failed to comply from Jan. 16 would face a recurring monthly fine of 100 euros.

Greece to make vaccinations for people over 60 mandatory, PM says

Greece said on Tuesday it would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for people aged 60 and over in a move to quell a resurgent virus that is burdening a frail healthcare system.

www.reuters.com

 

[kev994]

Greece to make vaccinations for people over 60 mandatory, PM says

Greece said on Tuesday it would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for people aged 60 and over in a move to quell a resurgent virus that is burdening a frail healthcare system.

www.reuters.com

That’s an interesting solution.

 

[kkwd]

That’s an interesting solution.

Yes, seems at 59 you are good to go.

 

[mariomike]

Just over one per cent B.C. government employees — 432 people — will be placed on unpaid leave after failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or declining to disclose their vaccination status as required.​

The Toronto Police Service placed 117 officers on unpaid leave Tuesday as part of its COVID-19 vaccination policy.
That's out of more than 7,400 employees.

Toronto Police Service :: Media Advisory #51643

Any unvacinated city firefighters or paramedics have been on unpaid leave since 31 Oct.

I have not heard or read any reports of increased emergency response times.

As for transit, the Ontario Superior Court denied a request from the Toronto Transit Commission's union to block the transit agency from enforcing its mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
As the TTC is the third largest transit system in North America, after New York and Mexico City, this Ontario court ruling may have a ripple effect with unions across Canada.

 

[OceanBonfire]

Europe is "cracking down" on the unvaccinated. I feel the world should have done that a little while ago.

Germany imposes curbs on unvaccinated, to make shots mandatory

Germany on Thursday imposed restrictions on the unvaccinated as it sought to break a dramatic surge in daily coronavirus infections exacerbated by the discovery of the Omicron strain.

www.reuters.com

U.S. steps up fight against Omicron as variant marches across globe

President Joe Biden on Thursday laid out his strategy to fight the coronavirus as the highly contagious Omicron spread across the globe with winter coming and hours after the first known U.S. case of community transmission of the variant was reported.

www.reuters.com

Croatia unveils heavy fines for failure to apply COVID certificates

Croatia's government on Thursday proposed heavy fines for heads of public institutions or municipalities who fail to enforce digital certificates for their employees or visitors designed to help curb a renewed surge of COVID-19.

www.reuters.com

Something positive:

GSK says tests indicate antibody drug works against Omicron

Laboratory analysis of the antibody-based COVID-19 therapy GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is developing with U.S. partner Vir has indicated the drug is effective against the new Omicron variant, the British drugmaker said on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

 

[NotSoWiseKingSolomon]

No it's not. But they're becoming increasingly sensationalized, polarizing, and political.
I saw some goofy speed wobbles with attestation forms but all in all surprised and impressed as well. I predicted the CAF would cave and drag the process out or support any and every HR and religious claim.

There is amendment to CDS directive 002 on CAF COVID-19 vaccination – Implementation of Accommodations and Administrative Action - Canada.ca currently signed on DWAN and I assume be published publicly soon.

They extended deadline to 18th Dec for attestations, and you are able to submit accommodation requests for both religious and human rights (CHRA) (and medical if you have a basis to requests on that ground).

They have scrapped the 30 Nov deadline for CO's decisions on accommodations to indefinite.

Why they chose to make these changes? I gather that there is a significant amount of CAF members that have not complied with policy along with some requests for accommodations. What would be the impact of releasing all these members?

Let's say 1-2% all under this category, you can argue that it is non-significant sure. But where every facet of the CAF is short staffed, what does that equate to for Full timed manned for of 60k? You would feel the hurt especially if those people where in

 

[Jarnhamar]

[

Let's say 1-2% all under this category, you can argue that it is non-significant sure. But where every facet of the CAF is short staffed, what does that equate to for Full timed manned for of 60k? You would feel the hurt especially if those people where in

The threat of releasing members for refusing covid vaccinations when we're so short staffed really isn't much of a threat IMO.

CAF members who aren't vaccinated will pretty much be a write off. They won't be deployable overseas and I don't think other countries will care about about our religious or CHRA complaints. Even doctors notes. So forget about dlbeinf deployable.
They're also going to run into constant barriers in Canada.

All the die hard vaccine refusers I've seen are either already on the way out of the CAF, angling themselves to release from the CAF, or don't want to be here and are using this as an exit.

So yes we're losing members when we're already short staffed (and losing more than we're recruiting) but I don't think it's without it's appeal.

 

[dimsum]

CAF members who aren't vaccinated will pretty much be a write off. They won't be deployable overseas and I don't think other countries will care about about our religious or CHRA complaints. Even doctors notes. So forget about dlbeinf deployable.
They're also going to run into constant barriers in Canada.

I can't wait for one to pop up on social media complaining that they're not getting the next big deployment (whenever/wherever it is), then complaining that they don't have any medals.

 

[McG]

If the federal public service and municipal transit systems can impose a vaccine standard but the CAF cannot, then we may as well stop pretending that the words "discipline" and "profession" apply to the CAF.

 

[mariomike]

If the federal public service and municipal transit systems can impose a vaccine standard but the CAF cannot, then we may as well stop pretending that the words "discipline" and "profession" apply to the CAF.

Firefighters and paramedics in my town who are not double-vaxxed have been on unpaid suspension since 31 Oct. . They'll be fired on 13 Dec.

Their replacements will be fully vaxxed.

I have not heard or read of any impact on response times.

 

[daftandbarmy]

If the federal public service and municipal transit systems can impose a vaccine standard but the CAF cannot, then we may as well stop pretending that the words "discipline" and "profession" apply to the CAF.

You forgot to add 'leadership', but I assume that was an intentional miss

 

[Remius]

There is amendment to CDS directive 002 on CAF COVID-19 vaccination – Implementation of Accommodations and Administrative Action - Canada.ca currently signed on DWAN and I assume be published publicly soon.

They extended deadline to 18th Dec for attestations, and you are able to submit accommodation requests for both religious and human rights (CHRA) (and medical if you have a basis to requests on that ground).

They have scrapped the 30 Nov deadline for CO's decisions on accommodations to indefinite.

Why they chose to make these changes? I gather that there is a significant amount of CAF members that have not complied with policy along with some requests for accommodations. What would be the impact of releasing all these members?

Let's say 1-2% all under this category, you can argue that it is non-significant sure. But where every facet of the CAF is short staffed, what does that equate to for Full timed manned for of 60k? You would feel the hurt especially if those people where in

This is strange. If people have not attested and not requested accommodation they should already be on remedial measures. Accomodation requests may be the hold up but it seems pretty cut and dry in most cases.

Our unit had about 2% in that category. All but one I believe were denied accommodation and it didn’t take that long.

This may be the exception to the rule though. But it could be that COs are seeking guidance on accommodations and that return might be taking more time.

 

[ModlrMike]

It will be interesting to see where things go with the Omicron variant. Early findings are suggesting that while it is more infectious, it causes less severe disease. This is actually a good thing. If the early data holds true, and it overtakes Delta as the dominant strain, it could be the beginning of the end.

 

[NotSoWiseKingSolomon]

This is strange. If people have not attested and not requested accommodation they should already be on remedial measures. Accomodation requests may be the hold up but it seems pretty cut and dry in most cases.

Our unit had about 2% in that category. All but one I believe were denied accommodation and it didn’t take that long.

This may be the exception to the rule though. But it could be that COs are seeking guidance on accommodations and that return might be taking more time.

Everything is being funneled to top and all must be reviewed by the Jags to ensure consistency throughout entire CAF. There are number of approvals (via DWAN stats if you know where to look for them) that give you info in real time with number of requests/approvals.
I wouldn't expect a return on approval or not until late Jan.

 

[Remius]

Everything is being funneled to top and all must be reviewed by the Jags to ensure consistency throughout entire CAF. There are number of approvals (via DWAN stats if you know where to look for them) that give you info in real time with number of requests/approvals.
I wouldn't expect a return on approval or not until late Jan.

Our returns came back in short order. Members affected are on remedial measures. I guess experiences will vary.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Delta and Omicron rearranged spell Media Control.

Dun dun dun

 

[dapaterson]

And "Forces Armees Canadiennes" rearranged spells "méconnaissance redéferas", which means "ignorance will redefine", which, come to think of it, explains a whole lot about CFLRS and CMR in St Jean sur Richelieu.

 

[dapaterson]

Royal Canadian Regiment rearranged spells "Argentinean myocardial"

Warrant Officer rearranged spells "Careworn tariff"

Major General rearranged spells "logjam nearer"

 

[dimsum]

Royal Canadian Regiment rearranged spells "Argentinean myocardial"

Warrant Officer rearranged spells "Careworn tariff"

Major General rearranged spells "logjam nearer"

I've always hated people who could decipher and make anagrams off the top of their head.

 

[NotSoWiseKingSolomon]

[

The threat of releasing members for refusing covid vaccinations when we're so short staffed really isn't much of a threat IMO.

CAF members who aren't vaccinated will pretty much be a write off. They won't be deployable overseas and I don't think other countries will care about about our religious or CHRA complaints. Even doctors notes. So forget about dlbeinf deployable.
They're also going to run into constant barriers in Canada.

All the die hard vaccine refusers I've seen are either already on the way out of the CAF, angling themselves to release from the CAF, or don't want to be here and are using this as an exit.

So yes we're losing members when we're already short staffed (and losing more than we're recruiting) but I don't think it's without it's appeal.

These measures are temporary so can't be released because of universality of service.
If it was such a write off, then why is the CDS making the deadline for attestation from 15 Nov to 18 Dec? And the deadline for approvals from 30 Nov to indefinite? Is it possible they are getting the people who didn't attest/ unvaccinated a way to stay in?
You are going to lose good people over this, and many people felt compelled and scared to comply.