Rapid antigen tests crucial for ag supply chain, as Covid rules change

Changes to the definition of a Covid close contact could benefit agriculture, but the industry now faces yet another hurdle.

Changes to the definition of a Covid-19 close contact could help ease the burden on the agricultural workforce and keep more people out of isolation.

But access to rapid antigen tests, or RAT, is imperative to protect the agricultural supply chain, according to one industry expert.

National cabinet last week agreed that close contacts would be defined as household or “household-like” contacts who had spent more than four hours with a confirmed case during their infectious period.

The isolation period for confirmed Covid-19 cases was also reduced to seven days, with close contacts to quarantine for seven days.

A negative RAT on day six is required to end isolation, according to national cabinet.

Grain Growers chairman Brett Hosking said while the grains industry hadn’t been significantly affected by the ongoing coronavirus outbreaks, the changes would help protect the supply chain during harvest.

Recent changes to the definition of a close contact, and home isolation rules, could ease the pressure on Australia’s agricultural supply chain. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

“Growers are absolutely doing the right thing, because they don’t want to be closed down, and they don’t want to get sick,” Mr Hosking said.

“We’d hope with these changes it might create more agility in the supply chain, which has been greatly lacking.

“I think it’ll make a great difference for growers who are say, waiting for a part that should arrive in one day but instead takes a week, or waiting for chemicals and fertilisers, or thinking about the logistics of delivering livestock and grain … hopefully these changes will have a positive impact in these areas.”

Australian Red Meat Industry Council chief executive Pat Hutchinson said speedy access to free or affordable RAT across Australia was key to keeping the supply chain functioning.

“In order to keep the food supply chain moving, based on the new definitions and structure announced on Thursday, we need this immediately,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“It’s a massively vexed issue we appreciate, and becoming unfortunately, yet again regarding the pandemic, a political one, however we’re hearing from many organisations like Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, The Pharmacy Guild and institute of pathologists that this can, and should, be done.

“Access to RAT is paramount for food supply, period.”