IN light of the recent confirmation of Covid-19 cases in the community, the CNMI Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an order requiring all judiciary employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or to undergo weekly testing before entering the workplace.
The mandate takes effect Dec. 6 to allow sufficient time for personnel to be vaccinated.
In addition to the vaccination or weekly testing requirements, employees must follow Covid-19 preventive measures which include wearing face masks, practicing social distancing of no less than six feet, and washing their hands.
The CNMI Supreme Court said its order follows that of other courts, including Guam, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Maryland, and is in line with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission position that “federal EEO Laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, subject to the reasonable accommodation provisions of Title VII and the ADA and other EEO considerations ….”
