NZ Minister for Health has released details of the Exemption Scheme for companies on the Critical Business Register

Details of the Close Contact Exemption Scheme for companies on the Critical Business Register. THESE EXEMPTIONS WILL COME INTO PLAY when NZ moves into phases 2 and 3 of the Red traffic light setting.

Workers at registered critical services which are vaccinated and asymptomatic close contacts of a COVID-19 case will be able to continue to work as long as they return a negative rapid antigen test before each day/shift they are at work during the isolation period (7 days) and follow specific health protocols. They will only be allowed to go to work – not anywhere else.

All businesses can continue to operate at red.  This register is about maintaining the workforce if you have members of staff that are having to isolate as Close Contacts and only applies during Phases 2 and 3 when there are higher numbers of daily cases and consequently high numbers of Close Contacts. You may only wish only to use this for certain workers.

There will be two circumstances when workers can continue to work if they are vaccinated and asymptomatic:

1. As a Bubble of One if they are not customer facing and following strict health protocols.
2. Through the Close Contract Exemption Scheme.

As many of your businesses must continue to operate, an option has been provided. However, some thought is to be given to implementing the Close Contact Exemption scheme as it could risk the business.  Rapid antigen tests are about 80% accurate, so while a worker must submit a negative test each morning of their isolation period, there is the potential that they are Covid positive. The test doesn't pick it up and pass Covid-19 to other workers.

This scheme only applies to Close Contacts - those positive with Covid must do their isolation at home. 

The bubble of One - no exemption required
During Phase 2 and 3, a business may have a worker on site who has been named as a Close Contact If the worker is not customer facing and they can maintain a bubble of one at all times, whether indoors or outdoors (and this includes getting to and from work).

These workers are NOT required to use rapid antigen testing as part of this, and the business is not required to register for a bubble of one.

However, the bubble of one must:

• Participate in workplace surveillance testing if this is already in place
• Always wear a medical mask
• Comply with any infection prevention and control protocols
• Work alone
• Travel solo to and from work
• Eat alone in a well-ventilated space - preferably outdoors
• Use a dedicated bathroom where possible (if this is not possible, no others can be present in the bathroom)
• If they develop symptoms, follow protocols for Close Contacts with symptoms (i.e. leave work, get tested and go home).

Close Contact Exemption Scheme
Businesses that are important for people's basic needs provide essential infrastructure and are part of critical supply chains (where companies in our industry will fit); their workers can access the Close Contact Exemption Scheme to ensure essential services continue to function.

Businesses will be required to register on the Critical Services Register (click here to register via Business Connect). If accepted, their Close Contacts workers will continue to come to work during their isolation period. It would help if you were involved in one of the following basic needs areas:

• Food production
• Distribution and sale of basic food
• Principal accommodation
• Health services, including services provided for deceased persons

There are two simple questions for the self-assessment:

1. Are you involved in one of the above areas
2. Will the temporary closure of your business cause significant economic, social or physical harm to the community?

Once your Critical Service status is confirmed, vaccinated asymptomatic workers that are named as Close Contacts will be able to continue to work under the following conditions:

• These workers must submit a negative rapid antigen test at the beginning of each shift/day before starting work and follow specific health protocols.
• Workers participating in the scheme will collect free Rapid Antigen test kits from a collection site.
• When a worker at a critical service is notified that they are a Close Contact, they need to obtain from their employer:
  • A copy of the letter the business received from the Critical Services Register recording that they have declared themselves a critical service and containing a unique identifier for that business
  • A letter which must include the following:
    • a declaration that the worker and the business are critical
    • an outline of the protocols the worker has to follow to mitigate transmission risks
    • the unique identifier from the Critical Services Register letter
    • the worker's workplace identification (if they have one).
• The worker will then need to collect a RAT kit from the Ministry of Health distribution centre. To obtain these, they will need the two letters mentioned above plus:
  • Workplace ID (if they have one)
  • Personal ID including Vaccine Pass
  • Text message confirming they are a Close Contact
  • A RATs order number

This is an initial download of information to make you aware of how it will work, to complete the registration and to allow you to identify the staff you may want to participate in the scheme, so when we change levels, you are ready. 

Here are some links that may help provide further clarity, and as always, we will keep you posted as things are updated.

Critical Business Register/Close Contact Exemption Scheme
Rapid Antigen Tests