Jacques Scott reminds employees frontline workers will be tested weekly for COVID-19

(CMR) Local retailer of premium wine, beer and liquor, Jacques Scott Ltd. has become the latest company in the Cayman Islands to inform their employees of COVID-19 protocols ahead of the country's planned reopening efforts. A memo sent out earlier today requested that staff provide proof of vaccination by Friday August 20 or be subjected to the weekly PCR testing regime for frontline workers to be carried out by Public Health.

Unlike some other retail companies, Jacques Scott has not yet indicated that vaccination would be mandatory. However, they have confirmed that they are considering all of their staff frontline employees and as such, they would be subjecting them to weekly PCR testing. They will also undertake “enhanced measures” when the borders re-open.

On Friday, the local grocery stores announced that they will be mandating vaccination for job applicants and for persons seeking to renew permits.

Questions remain about who will pay for the PCR test for frontline workers.

If employees do not provide proof of vaccination they will be required to provide a weekly negative COVID-19 test, wear a mask and observe social distance when at work. They did encourage all staff who are able to do so to get vaccinated.

Companies requesting COVID-19 vaccination proof have recently come under scrutiny by the Office of the Ombudsman. CMR understands that they recently contacted one retailer twice about how he was keeping his company records. Sharing their feelings with CMR on the matter they noted that it was “typical government overreach.”

In other COVID-19 vaccination mandates, it appears that the US government will be requiring all military personnel to get vaccinated soon. The Pentagon made the announcement that all service members must get the COVID-19 vaccine by mid-September. Those who refuse will be subjected to a number of penalties including a reprimand, confinement and getting kicked out of the military. They may also be given an administrative reprimand which is placed on their permanent filed and can impact promotions of career advancemnt.

It is expected that the mandate could come via a presidential waiver after the FDA approves the available vaccines so that there can be no argument that the order is unconstitutional.

“It's not a lawful order if it doesn't serve a government purpose, if it is unconstitutional — such as an order to incriminate yourself, or if it directs you to commit a crime,”