Covid NT: Supermarket union reacts to iso rule change

Another industry has put forward their view on the scrapping of iso for close contact essential workers, and they’re calling on the Government for one small change.

UPDATE: THE retail and supermarket union has voiced their concern about changes to close contact isolation rules for members of their industry.

Supermarket workers essential to the functioning of their workplace are now able to continue working even if they are identified as a close contact of someone with Covid. Healthcare and childcare workers are also exempt from the seven-day isolation to go to work.

SDA Northern Territory branch director Shlok Sharma said the new directives would have to be taken with caution.

“This should not be used as a free pass to force Territorians back to work when it’s unsafe.

“We need to see protections put in place to ensure that no workers are being forced to work if they’re uncomfortable or are concerned about their safety,” he said.

Mr Sharma said he understood the need for the new rules, as staff shortages hit hard in the retail industry.

“Like most other people, many supermarket workers who have been isolating are eager to get out of the house and back to work provided it’s safe to do so,” he said.

“These changes will ensure workers can get back to doing their essential role in the community and ensure they can continue to pay the bills.”

Mr Sharma said he now called on all levels of government to assist with these new rules, by ensuring access to RATs. “Ensuring workers have priority and immediate access to free Rapid Antigen Tests is critical in ensuring they can continue to work without disruption or any financial burden,” he said.

A poll of more than 100 NT News readers revealed almost an even-split in opinions, with 48 per cent agreeing with the rule change and 52 per cent against it, at time of print.

EARLIER: ESSENTIAL workers across the Territory will still be able to work if identified as a close contact, under new directives announced by the NT Government.

The workers, in industries such as healthcare, childcare and supermarkets, must be asymptomatic, return a negative RAT result each day they work, take extra precautions such as wearing masks and PPE and stay isolated when not at work.

They would also be required to stay away from other colleagues where possible.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the change in directive was necessary as Omicron continues to spread.

“Managing Covid also means making sure our essential services stay open and stay staffed,” he said.

“This only applies if you’re an essential worker and you are needed to keep that workplace functioning.”

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT branch secretary Cath Hatcher said she was informed of the decision late last week.

“I don’t agree with it,” she said.

She said the main issue she had with the change in directives were the obligations nurses might feel to come in to work, even if they had been exposed.

When you look at the work health and safety act, no employer can force an employee (exposed to) Covid without symptoms to come to work.

But if you were a well nurse or midwife and had Covid and were concerned for your colleagues, you would feel bad that they’re run off their feet and might be obliged to say yes and return to work,” she said.

She could understand the rationale behind the change however, and the logistics to reduce the risk to people in hospital.

“As a nurse and a midwife I totally understand why the CHO (made the change) — If you’ve got a fairly huge cohort isolating then where do you get a staff from?

“You have to run a hospital, you have to run a clinic,” she said.

Ms Hatcher believed workers that were close contacts would be working in the Covid wards or ICU, where they had to don full PPE and do RATs everyday anyway.

She said she was yet to hear from her members who would be directly impacted about their thoughts on the new rules.

But AMA NT president Dr Robert Parker said it was all about striking a “balance”.

“Unfortunately it is a balance between reducing the spread and society being able to function,” he said.

Associate Professor Rob Parker President of AMA NT. Picture: Julianne Osborne

Dr Parker said he was concerned that it could lead to more cases, with infectious health care workers in the system.

“I am concerned but the problem is we have to keep society functioning — it’s an adaptive process.

But he said the way cases are going and in order to deal with staff shortages it may be the only thing to do right now.

“Omicron will probably become a bit like the flu.”

“At least with three vaccinations you’re better protected against adverse health consequences,” he said.

26 people are currently in hospital, with two of these in ICU.

One of the ICU patients is on a ventilator.

It comes after 404 new cases of Covid were recorded overnight, including 112 positive rapid antigen test results.