File photo outside of Lethbridge City Hall. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

City of Lethbridge to implement COVID testing program for employees

Sep 7, 2021 | 11:27 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A provincial masking mandate is back in effect across Alberta, due to rising COVID-19 case numbers.

In response to this, the City of Lethbridge has announced some changes for its employees.

Staff who are able to work from home are being mandated to do so and as per the provincial mandate, staff will have to wear face coverings in city facilities, vehicles and whenever there is no physical barrier or the ability to maintain a distance of at least two metres.

Additionally, a COVID-19 rapid testing program is being developed for City of Lethbridge employees.

City manager Craig Dalton explained that the mandatory testing program is for those working in city facilities, “especially our operational staff.”

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“We have a lot of folks who work on the operational side of the business each and every day and so, we are implementing a mandatory testing program, which will require folks to be screened, tested to access the workplace, to perform their duties.”

READ MORE: Alberta offering $100 incentive for people to get vaccinated; indoor mask mandate returns

Employees who are fully vaccinated will not have to take part in the testing program. As well, the program will not apply to city employees working from home.

Dalton commented, “as the pandemic continues to evolve, we need to evolve as an organization and really make sure that we’re taking the steps that we can take within our area of responsibility to do what we can to protect the health and safety or ensure the health and safety of our staff, the health and safety of citizens and importantly, to make sure that we have good business continuity plans in place and that we’re able to continue to provide essential services to citizens.”

He said logistics for the testing initiative, including a budget, are still being finalized, and he was not sure when exactly the program will start. It’s anticipated that a contractor will be hired to implement the testing.