The Education Ministry announced on Thursday it would withhold pay from teachers who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 if they refuse to get tested for coronavirus.
The ministry stated in a communiqué that starting October 3, unvaccinated teaching staff will not be allowed on school premises unless they present proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, or a recent coronavirus test.
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Students and teacher wearing face masks in the classroom at Tel Aviv's Arazim elementary school
(Photo: Reuters)
The announcement qualified that any staff member who is denied entry to school premises for failing to follow orders, "their absence will be considered as unjustified and they will not be qualified to receive payment."
"Schools must operate in compliance with health guidelines, whose aim is to allow the education system to continue functioning to the best of its abilities."
Earlier on Thursday, Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash said that the persistent rise in severe virus cases is stretching the healthcare system's resources thin.
"There is a limit to what the teams can do, we are standing on the precipice," he said. "We are still able to treat everyone, but if the numbers keep climbing, we are going to need to make some difficult decisions. Most of the severely ill are unvaccinated, they are inundating hospitals, it is important to get inoculated."