South Australian police no longer need to be fully vaccinated to work in the sector after the state’s top cop backflipped on his own law.
Back in November last year, a direction was issued under the Emergency Management Act making it compulsory for all SA Police employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Only a small portion of the force — less than 1.5 per cent — did not receive the jabs, and weren’t allowed to engage in any police work or attend workplace settings.
Although majority of police received their two doses, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens announced on Friday that the rule would be revoked as of 7am on Monday and be replaced by a managerial direction.
The commissioner — who is also the State Coordinator that writes such directions — said he was “confident” the risks to his employees and members of the public could be managed through alternate controls, rather than standing down his unvaccinated staff.
But those workers without vaccination will need undertake Rapid Antigen Testing as soon as they present to a police setting at the start of their shift.
Their results will need to immediately be provided to their supervisor and they will need to wear a properly fitted PFR mask throughout their shift.
While those unvaccinated staff can return to work, Mr Stevens said there would be some limitations in attending certain settings, like aged care, disability facilities and the forensic science building.
“SAPOL has been constantly monitoring this dynamic and fast changing situation,” he said.
“The ongoing requirement for vaccination mandates are particular for the sectors to which they apply.
“As the State Coordinator, I am engaging with, and seeking advice from, agencies and sectors which have a mandatory vaccination direction.
“That advice will be taken into consideration with regard to the ongoing application of the Emergency Management Act Directions which impact those agencies.”
It was also announced on Friday that direction affected Healthcare Setting Workers was also changed.
It now allows those who are unvaccinated and wxjmtzywork in the setting “on a single occasion or on an infrequent and irregular basis” to return to their job.
Like those in the SA Police force, the healthcare workers will need to produce a negative Rapid Antigen Test that can be taken either on the day they attend the setting or 24 hours prior and must wear appropriate PPE.
It comes as the state recorded 2047 new Covid-19 cases reported on Friday, bringing the total number of active infections to 18,363.
A woman in her 60s and a man in his 80s who tested positive to the virus died.
Over the past week, the number of daily infections gradually rose but the hospitalisation figures remained consistent.
Currently, 106 infected patients are in hospital, including nine people in intensive care and one person is on a ventilator.
