SPECIAL REPORT
COVID FATIGUE
Prepare for a
virus attack
Words by: Anne Lee
F
armers are being strongly urged to plan for a positive case of Covid-19 on the farm so they’re not caught unprepared and can smoothly continue to keep the farm running. DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Beef and Lamb New Zealand and other primary sector groups have been working with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Primary Industry officials to get answers to the myriad of questions farmers have as the country moves to a likely state of more widespread community transmission. As vaccination targets are reached more freedoms to travel and meet will likely bring an increase in positive cases and although it may not necessarily mean people who are double vaccinated become very ill, they will still have to isolate. People who are close contacts of a positive case will also have to isolate, regardless of vaccination status. That could all put pressure on remaining staff and in some cases on smaller farms, could mean the entire workforce is out of action. DairyNZ Covid-19 project lead Hamish Hodgson says the Ministry of Health has indicated it is up to the Medical Officer of Health in each region’s District Health Board (DHB) to decide if a person who has tested positive can safely self-isolate at home or should be moved to another location. “What’s clear from our discussions 42
KEY POINTS: Medical Officer of Health will decide if people can safely isolate onfarm and if they can continue to safely work.
Have a prepared plan for a Covid case or close contacts, this will help in discussions with Medical Officer of Health.
Have a plan B for housing so people can self-isolate.
Talk with your neighbours so you have a contingency if your own team can’t work.
with the Ministry of Health and DHB’s is that the decision on whether someone can isolate at home, onfarm or continue working will depend on the health status of the person and the situation on that particular farm. “Having a clear, pre-thought-out plan on how people can safely remain isolated, that can then be discussed with the Medical Officer of Health will make that process more straightforward,” he says. Federated Farmers facilitated a webinar with Ministry of Health officials and Southland’s Medical Officer of Health for the Southern DHB Dr Michael Butchard
in November to help answer farmers’ questions. The aim of isolation is to stop the spread of the disease. He was asked if a farmer, who was deemed able to isolate onfarm, could then work on the farm. “If you are able to convince us you can work without spreading it to anyone else – in theory we’d say ok that’s all right,” he said. That would mean being isolated from others onfarm or being a sole operator. In reality though some people will be too unwell to work, he warned.
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | December 2021
