According to an internal memo, CNN fired three employees who came to work last week without having been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The note was distributed to employees on Thursday by Reuters. President Jeff Zucker stated that there is no tolerance for employees not being vaccinated in order to allow them to go to work or be on the field with other employees.
“Everyone from news, sports, and studios who comes in now and going forward must be vaccinated. We have been clear about this for months, so there should be no confusion,” according to the memo.
The office where the incident occurred was not mentioned in the memo.
CNN reported that presenting proof of vaccination could now be a mandatory part of the entry process for office. This is in contrast to earlier honor systems.
CNN decided to delay the Sept. 7 return date to the U.S. until mid-October because of an increase in COVID-19 cases across the country. Zucker stated in the note that masks have been mandated in its Los Angeles and Washington DC workspaces.
Due to the resurgence in COVID-19 cases and new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that requires all individuals to be fully vaccinated, several companies have altered their plans for vaccinations, masking and returning to office.
CNN offers most offices to employees who are willing to work there, as long as they have been fully vaccinated.
