CINCINNATI — The City of Cincinnati will require all city employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing and continue to wear a mask indoors.

After Sept. 21, city employees who remain unvaccinated or "do not attest to vaccination status" will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test on a weekly basis, according to a memo sent Wednesday by City Manager Paula Boggs Muething.

The memo to city department heads said employees who are not proven to be vaccinated will need to provide a negative test result. The test result cannot be older than 72 hours at the time of submission, per the policy.

Under the policy, unvaccinated employees who do not comply with the testing requirement or test positive for COVID-19 will be placed on leave. They'll have to remain on leave until they are in compliance with the policy and/or released from quarantine.

While on leave, an employee has to use their "accrued balances" of sick or personal time or "remain in an unpaid status," per the memo.

Muething said the city will work with the Health Collaborative to provide weekly testing events. Employees who are not able to attend are responsible for finding another method to submit a negative test, per the memo.

Some at-home testing kits will be available to city staff, but those numbers are limited.

"This policy ... is being enacted to protect the workforce of the city and the public, comply with local, state, and federal health guidance, ensure the ability to continue city services, and respect individual employees," the memo reads in part.

The city is giving employees who receive a first (or single) vaccination shot at a Cincinnati Health Department facility $100 cash card. That will begin once the policy goes into effect later this month.

Employees who are already vaccinated or have started the vaccination process will be eligible for a $50 “Health Lifestyle” benefit for their health coverage. It only applies if an employee is within their $300 cap, per the policy.

The city manager wrote that unvaccinated employees are required to wear a facial covering when indoors. They must also wear a mask while "in a vehicle with others, working with the public, or otherwise working and unable to socially distance."

The city said it will not require vaccinated employees to wear a facial covering for the time being, but they do encourage it.

All employees, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, are required to comply with all internal social distancing measures, per the policy.

The policy also affects contractors. Those doing business with the City of Cincinnati will be required to adopt similar policies for their employees who work on city property. Contractors who are vaccinated will need to carry proof of vaccination.

The city will allow some exemptions, including religious belief or related medical issues, such as a possible allergy. Staff will need to provide a statement and medical documentation, in that case.