Puerto Rico is asking companies to request proof of vaccination

Government of Puerto Rico Pedro PierluisiPedro Rafael PierluisiPuerto Rico receives nearly a billion in pandemic aid Overnight health care: House committees launch investigation into Alzheimer’s drug | Half of the public health workers suffer from mental distress | Puerto Rico Urges Congress to Avoid “Medicaid Cliff” The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Will This Infrastructure Deal Go Through? MORE (D) on Thursday ordered a number of companies to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for their employees and customers amid rising cases in U.S. Territory.

Under the new regulation, owners and managers must require proof of vaccination from employees in beauty salons, barbershop, nail salons, spas, gyms, daycare centers, supermarkets, markets, casinos and gas station convenience stores.

Beauty salons, hairdressers, nail salons, spas, fitness studios and casinos also have to ask their customers for proof of vaccination – or reduce their occupancy by 50 percent.

“Amid the significant increase in contagion, I, as governor, have the responsibility and duty to continue to closely monitor the daily statistics published by the Ministry of Health and to take the necessary measures to ensure the health of all,” Pierluisi said in a Spanish-language statement.

“The vaccine has been tested and it works. Unfortunately, we see that 98 percent of hospital patients and the vast majority of deaths are people who are not vaccinated. We all have an individual responsibility to protect ourselves, ”he added.

To qualify as vaccinated under the new regulations, employees must provide evidence of the first dose of an approved vaccine by August 30 and proof of full vaccination by October 15.

Employees with medical or religious exceptions are required to provide negative COVID-19 tests or a positive test and a medical letter certifying their recovery on a weekly basis.

By order of Pierluisi, employers who fail to verify the vaccination status of their employees or sponsors face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $ 5,000.

The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in Puerto Rico rose from a low of 34 in mid-June to 866 cases on Wednesday.