Omicron update #2: The latest from the Government

26 January 2022

This afternoon, the Government provided some more information about how it intends to manage the spread of Omicron in the community, through a three-phase approach:

  1. ‘Stamp it out’ - slow the start of the outbreak
  2. Slow the spread of the outbreak
  3. Minimise the widespread outbreak. 

For the currently available detail, please read the Covid19.govt.nz update or read the Government's media release.

In the Government’s briefing, ‘keeping critical workers going through the outbreak’ was emphasised and ‘food supply and infrastructure’ (such as ‘electricity’) were mentioned as critical.  

In the briefing, the Government emphasised that its approach to managing Omicron will ‘evolve’, including the management of close contacts as case numbers increase.  The Government said that Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) would be used to support the return to work of workers in critical industries and sectors during Phases 2 and 3.  It said that more information about how to order RAT tests ‘from a Ministry of Health online portal would be made available in the coming days and weeks’. 

 

What we are doing to support horticulture 

HortNZ and product groups are providing advice to senior Government officials about ways to minimise the impact of Omicron on the horticulture industry and supply chain. 

The Government’s priority is to maintain domestic food supply as part of its public health focused response to Covid.  They are very mindful of the food shortages and food insecurity that parts of Australia experienced recently. 

We have stressed to Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) senior staff that during harvest, crops are at their best for very short periods of time and need to be picked immediately otherwise they go to waste.  As a result, we have underlined it is imperative in the response to Omicron that there is a drive to maximise the number of people available to keep the supply chain operating. 

While the current uncertainty is frustrating, this stance appears to have been reflected in the Government’s announcement this afternoon.  However, we will maintain our strenuous advocacy, because so much of our industry is in the middle of or about to start harvest, and the planting of vegetables never stops. 

We are advocating for a review of the definition of a close contact and reducing the number of days a close contact is required to stand down, before returning to work.  Part of this is the widespread availability of RAT testing. 

We believe our position reflects the change in the Government’s approach to Covid, particularly with Omicron.  Now more than ever, New Zealand needs to develop ways to manage Covid, from public health, and business and economic objectives. 
 

What you can do right now

Advice from businesses whose staff have been infected with Covid is clear.  If you are operating completely separate worker bubbles, have excellent record keeping and can provide Ministry of Health and District Health Board staff with confidence, it is likely that you will be required to standdown only a minimum number of staff. 

Some businesses are also regularly testing their staff.  We suggest that where possible this practice is maintained.  However, a complicating factor will be PCR and saliva test result turnaround times will increase as Omicron spreads, and there could be a shortage of RAT tests. 

This situation is why we are advocating for the Government to allow the private importation of RAT tests, so they can be used for monitoring as well as return to work decisions. 

 

The realities

We have strenuously pointed out to the Government that our industry cannot withstand any further labour shortages as growers will be faced with having to leave vegetables in the ground and fruit on trees. They will also not replant crops and reinvest in infrastructure, which will have significant negative long-term effects on food supply and price. 

We have advocated for a common-sense approach to Covid prevention, testing, isolation and returning to work, to maximise the number of workers available to ensure the food supply chain continues to function, now and in the longer term. 

We will continue to advocate in the coming weeks and provide you with updates as soon as the Government announces its decisions. 

In the meantime, if you would like specific advice, please email Covid@hortnz.co.nz and if you need support, please go here: Mental health and wellbeing support — business.govt.nz