667,000 workers eligible for free rapid antigen tests
Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Just over 667,000 workers are covered by new self-isolation rules to prevent critical services from collapsing as Omicron cases escalate.
So far 13,792 businesses – a huge increase on the 5600 announced on Monday – have so far registered as “critical”, making them eligible for the close contact exemption scheme that provides access to free rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the Government’s stockpile.
For those businesses that qualify, asymptomatic vaccinated staff classed as close contacts of positive Covid-19 cases can return to work immediately if they return a negative RAT, instead of having to self-isolate for seven days.
Aimed at ensuring basic human needs are met, the scheme covers health services, food production and manufacturing, supermarkets, dairies and food banks, transport and emergency services, and funeral directors.
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The hospitality sector is excluded, apart from accommodation providing people with their primary place of residence, such as an apartment in a hotel, social or emergency housing, and self-isolation stays.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said there was no approval process as such, and businesses did a self-assessment to determine whether they qualified as a critical service before registering.
The register is checked to monitor overall compliance, and businesses that incorrectly registered may be removed by the Director General of Health. To date, none had been disqualified.
MBIE said that when a critical worker was identified as a close contact, the business had to decide whether they needed that worker on-site, or if they could defer the work or use an alternate staff member.
If that was not an option, the worker would collect a free rapid test kit from a distribution centre. “Businesses will not be given stocks of rapid antigen tests in advance.”
Businesses not classed as critical can use RATs to manage worker health and safety, but they have to source and pay for their own supplies, and industry bodies are stepping up to help members obtain tests kits, many of which are selling for between about $8 and $10 each.
The Restaurant Association has a small supply arriving next week, but said prices varied wildly, and it was an expensive undertaking for members wanting to use them as a precautionary measure, testing workers before they started their shift.
Blair Impey has 11 bars and restaurants in Queenstown, only three of which were open on Wednesday because 51 of his 110 staff had to isolate after being identified as close contacts.
He said it was totally unfair that hospitality was not part of the exemption scheme, and he had been fortunate to obtain RATs through a pharmacy contact. “If I buy 500 that’s $5500.”
Tourism Industry Aotearoa is working with RAT suppliers to put together an offer going out to members on Friday for tests due to arrive before the end of the month, and spokeswoman Ann-Marie Johnson expected them to be popular with operators keen to protect staff and keep their doors open.
Ultimate Hikes invested in RAT kits back in December and general manager Noel Saxon said a rapid test had helped identify a worker from a lodge on the Milford Track who recently tested positive for Covid-19 after a day off in Te Anau.
“It’s another tool in the tool box to keep our business running.”
Saxon said they were lucky the worker was based at Glade House, which was now closed while her work colleagues self-isolated, and if the illness had been identified at two much more remote huts, they would have had to shut down for a period.