The City of Kamloops will no longer require new employees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, starting Monday, July 4.

City staff made that announcement in a Wednesday afternoon tweet.

“While the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy has not been rescinded, it is currently on hold and we are optimistic it will not be needed in the future,” the statement said.

The City’s vaccination policy took effect last fall, with all existing employees required to declare their vaccination status by Dec. 15. Anyone not vaccinated had to undergo regular rapid testing.

In May, Councillor Denis Walsh called the City’s vaccination policy “unreasonable” and “discriminatory.”

According to the city, about 96 per cent of its employees are fully vaccinated.

Both the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Kamloops-Thompson school district have also hit pause on proof of COVID-19 vaccination policies.

Effective July 4,2022, the City of Kamloops will no longer require new employees to provide proof of vaccination. While the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy has not been rescinded, it is currently on hold and we are optimistic it will not be needed in the future. pic.twitter.com/mhNVMencpF

— City of Kamloops (@cityofkamloops) June 29, 2022