Punjab introduces strict COVID vaccination policy: 'No jab, no salary for Govt employees'

Amid rising Omicron cases across country, Punjab government has introduced a strict COVID-19 vaccination policy - 'no vaccine, no salary' - stating that it is mandatory for all government employees to have at least first dose of COVID-19 vaccine without proof of which y will not be given ir salaries. 

government employees have been asked to uplo ir vaccination certificates on Punjab government's iHRMS (Integrated Human Resource Management System) website, a software that streamlines salary payments and retirement benefit withdrawals of state government employees. After that, salary will be credited automatically to employee's designated bank account.

Notably, government announcement comes at a time when India has recorded 213 cases of Omicron variant across 15 states and UTs. 

COVID-19 cases in Punjab 

Meanwhile, on Monday, one more person died from coronavirus in Punjab as state reported 27 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking its total infection tally to 6,03,986, according to a medical bulletin.

As of December 20, 16,630 people died from infection in state. Among fresh cases, Jalandhar reported 10 cases, followed by six in Pathankot and three in Fatehgarh Sahib. number of active cases was 298. Forty-four people recovered from infection, taking number of those who have been cured to 5,87,058, as per bulletin. Chandigarh reported 14 COVID-19 cases, taking total count to 65,717. death toll, in Chandigarh, reached 1,078 with one more death in city.

Omicron in India

India has recorded 213 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus across 15 states and UTs so far out of which 90 people have recovered or migrated, according to  Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. 

Delhi has recorded maximum of 57 cases of Omicron variant followed by Maharashtra at 54, Telangana (24), Karnataka (19), Rajasthan (18), Kerala (15) and Gujarat (14).

Union Health Ministry data updated at 8 am also informed that India has logged 6,317 new coronavirus infections taking total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,47,58,481, while active cases declined to 78,190, lowest in 575 days.