All states and territories except Western Australia are expected to agree on changes to slash isolation requirements for food supply and distribution workers ahead of the next scheduled meeting of national cabinet on Thursday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday the changes could apply broadly across the industry.
“[It would cover] those who are driving the trucks to deliver the food,those who are stacking the shelves at night,those who are in the distribution centres,those who are in the abattoirs,those who are in the manufacturing places that are producing food,” he said.
Under the plan,close contacts deemed a low risk of infection,and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms,will not be required to isolate and are free to keep working in food supply chain roles.
High-risk contacts,who were exposed to an infected person in a household setting or in a workplace for at least 15 minutes without masks,may continue to work if they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms and return a negative rapid antigen test on day one. They would then have a rapid test every second day until day six. Symptomatic workers must isolate for seven days from their last COVID-19 contact.
Industry groups welcomed the plan but said governments must urgently provide adequate supply of rapid antigen tests to employers,especially small and medium-sized businesses,and pay for the test kits.