Montclair Will Make Town Workers Get Vaccine, Or Get Tested

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair will be requiring all municipal employees to get a coronavirus vaccination or take part in “regular testing,” Mayor Sean Spiller announced Thursday.

“The coronavirus pandemic continues to pose a clear and present danger to public health” Spiller said. “In light of the highly contagious delta variant, implementing a vaccination or testing requirement for all municipal employees is a commonsense step we can take to mitigate further spread and help get us back on the path to recovery.”

“In accordance with federal and state guidelines, and in concert with requirements enacted by Gov. Phil Murphy, Montclair must do everything we can locally to help protect public health,” the mayor said.

Additional details about the town’s new policy weren’t immediately available.

Spiller said that Montclair has already taken “numerous measures at the local level” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the creation of the town’s “Recovery Task Force.”

• See related article: Montclair Creates COVID-19 Task Force To Help Community

“Our community has been tested like never before,” Spiller said. “Through this entire pandemic, Montclair has demonstrated the caring, strength, and resilience for which our community is known. Safe and effective vaccines are the best tool we have in our arsenal to protect residents and finally put an end to this pandemic.”

“We can’t afford to go back.” Spiller urged.

• See related article: Essex County COVID Cases Still High, CDC Says: See Montclair Updates

The announcement of Montclair’s new vaccine policy comes a day after dozens of police officers and firefighters protested at Newark City Hall against that city’s vaccine mandate, which doesn’t allow for a testing option for unvaccinated people.

• See related article: Cops, Firefighters Protest Newark Vaccine Mandate At City Hall

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