CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County has suspended 598 employees without pay for failing to upload results of their weekly COVID-19 test, according to a statement given to Channel 9.
These county employees will remain under suspension until they show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
According to officials on Sept. 16 said that 290 of the suspended employees are full-time. The Department of Social Services had the most suspensions at 119.
Officials have confirmed that approximately 70% of all county employees are vaccinated.
BREAKING: County Commission Chair George Dunlap tells me Mecklenburg County has suspended unvaccinated employees for failing to upload the results of their weekly Covid test. It's unknown how many are impacted. More info to come later today #MeckBOCC https://t.co/bBaNJa1vLw
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 15, 2021
By the end of the next business day, 322 county employees remained suspended and of those, 187 are full time. Of the full-time employees, 66 are in DSS, and 29 are in Parks and Rec. 28 are in the land use department and 25 in the health department.
According to County Manager Dena Diorio’s Aug. 2 memo, unvaccinated county employees are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result to Human Resources on a weekly basis, beginning Sept. 7.
A spokesperson for the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said no employees from MCSO have been impacted.
Last week, the county released data showing 69.6% of fulltime employees were vaccinated.
Below is the full statement given to Channel 9:
Statement on Mecklenburg County Employee COVID-19 Testing:
“Unvaccinated Mecklenburg County Employees who have not submitted a negative COVID-19 test in the last seven days will receive suspension notices starting today, and will remain on unpaid suspension until proof of a vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is confirmed.
With approximately 70 percent of all employees vaccinated, Mecklenburg County remains committed to providing a safe work environment for all employees, as well as a safe experience for our customers.
The County has enacted this process to meet the highest standard of COVID-19 prevention possible.”
Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this developing story.
(WATCH BELOW: Charlotte Hospitals requiring mandatory vaccinations for team members)
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