Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said on Monday that he is giving its state employees five paid days off if they are immunized with COVID-19 vaccinations by the end of the year.
According to reports, Pennsylvania state workers could avail themselves the five paid days off “verification leave” between December 20 and March 31. Employees who have completed their immunizations and validated their status with the administration will automatically receive five days of paid leave.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf speaks during a 9/11 commemoration at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2021. – America marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11 Saturday with solemn ceremonies given added poignancy by the recent chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
COVID-19 Vaccinated Pennsylvania State Workers Eligible To Have 5-Day Work Leave
Wolf approved the paid leave benefits to state workers to encourage other employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. According to 6ABC, authorities said it was another method to express their gratitude to personnel that supported Pennsylvania in protecting towns and persons while also assisting to put an end to the coronavirus outbreak.
In a press statement released last August, Wolf asked its employees in state health care institutions and high-risk congregate-care facilities to be vaccinated or face weekly testing. Although Pennsylvania does not have a vaccination requirement for all state employees. The Associated Press said the state of Pennsylvania employs over 70,000 people.
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According to the National Governors Association, cash incentives have been the most common incentive for state governments in the past, with states like Arkansas and Maryland offering $100 to immunized state personnel. The Hill reported that President Joe Biden urged states to grant a $100 cash incentive using American Rescue Plan money in July.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity slammed Governor Wolf’s resolution. Garrity told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the decision “made in a backroom transaction” outside of the state budget process and away from public scrutiny is “economically reckless. As an impartial fiscal officer tasked with safeguarding money belonging to hardworking Pennsylvanians, Garrity is urging the governor to immediately abandon this ill-conceived initiative.
Pennsylvania Coronavirus Pandemic Status
WTAJ said the Pennsylvania Department of Health has documented 7,480 new cases of the fatal disease in the previous two days. According to the most recent statistics, the overall number of cases in the state has risen to 1,564,939.
In a two-day coverage, the Pennsylvania government will release another report on Tuesday that will indicate the number of people affected by the sickness. There were also 2,754 hospitalized coronavirus cases and 653 patients in the intensive care unit, according to the state.
From October 20 to October 26, 2020, health officials tallied 1,368 coronavirus infections in school-aged children aged five to 18. Erie News Now said the new reports gave a much lower number than the 5,238 cases reported in the same age group over the same period in 2021.
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