SA to adopt new AHPPC isolation rules for workers in critical supply chains
Close contacts who work in critical supply chains will be allowed to work if they are negative and asymptomatic, under new guidelines endorsed by SA.
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Workers in critical supply chain industries would be free to leave quarantine as close contacts to secure the state’s food stocks under new national rules.
Premier Steven Marshall will sign up to the guidelines, which were written by the country’s emergency medical expert panel, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
In some instances, some infectious workers would be free to return to work, especially in red meat and poultry production. Close contacts who work in critical supply chains, processing, food production, distribution and emergency services would be exempt from isolation if they are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic.
“We know there are some disrupted supply chains right across the country at the moment, we’re not immune to it here in SA, but it is certainly not as acute as it has been in other states,” Mr Marshall said.
He said special SA Health exemptions were being granted for Covid positive and close contacts to return to chicken and red meat production.
SA Health teams were working with management at the Teys factory near Naracoorte, where nearly 140 positive cases have been recorded. Similar exemptions have been granted to the disability sector.
He said the government would consider close contact exemptions for SA Health staff, particularly those working in hospitals, but would not allow infectious workers.
He warned against panic buying as there were no food shortages at present, just workforce issues, which he hoped would start to ease over the coming days.
“I think South Australians are better than this,” he said.
“I’m strongly encouraging people not to panic buy.
“We’re working through all the issues.”
The state’s shoppies union – the SDA – surveyed more than 2100 of its members and found 72.2 per cent had staff shortages caused by Omicron in their workplace.
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