Unvaccinated Ottawa police members must show negative test every three days under new policy

Ottawa Police Service members who are not fully vaccinated must produce a negative COVID -19 test every 72 hours, according to the service's new vaccination policy.

The policy, which was emailed to all OPS members on Friday and comes into effect immediately, requires OPS staff to disclose their vaccination status and, if they are unvaccinated, they must provide written proof of a medical exemption and request accommodation. If members provide no such proof, they will be considered unvaccinated.

Those who remain unvaccinated and do not have medical exemptions must complete an OPS COVID-19 education course by Nov. 15 and will have to provide negative COVID-19 tests every 72 hours even if they are working from home, without which they will be unable to enter OPS facilities.

The tests, which can be either a PCR or rapid antigen test, must be done outside working hours at OPS-identified testing locations, the service's policy said.

“Members must be aware and respect that many governments, health care providers, universities, authorities, agencies, organizations and businesses do not recognize negative COVID -19 testing in lieu of vaccination,” the OPS policy noted. “This requirement does not apply to police service members for the purpose of entering a specified business while exercising their lawful duties.”

The vaccination policy was developed jointly by the police service and Ottawa Police Association, which represents most OPS members, and the email to members on Friday was signed by both OPS Chief Peter Sloly and OPA president Matt Skof.

“This policy was drafted with the full coordination and cooperation between the OPS and the OPA,” read a message accompanying the policy. “The policy is designed to keep you safe.”