Positive cases in New Zealand King Salmon processing plant – Stuff.co.nz

Staff in a processing plant at New Zealand King Salmon are using rapid antigen tests after positive cases of Omicron in the factory, director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says.

On Wednesday, 15 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Te Tauihu (the top of the south).

In its daily update, the Ministry of Health announced a further 1160 cases nationally.

Bloomfield said New Zealand King Salmon in Nelson was continuing to operate despite cases in a processing plant, in keeping with the countrys shift to phase two of the response.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Third Nelson school reports Covid case* Covid-19: Nelson-Marlborough records nine new Omicron cases* Covid-19 NZ: Jacinda Ardern moves New Zealand into phase 2 of Omicron response, shrinking isolation period

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The Nelson plant will continue to operate, with workers using rapid antigen tests.

All had Rapid Antigen Tests and theyre going to be using the RATs to allow them to keep operating.

Under phase two, critical workers exposed to the virus can continue working while using RATs to test for the virus.

It comes after nine cases were announced in Nelson-Marlborough on Tuesday, and as three schools in Nelson Victory Primary School, St Josephs Primary School and Nayland College have all had cases, forcing close-contact students and staff to isolate.

There had also been positive presentations at the Nelson Hospital emergency department.

Anyone with symptoms is being urged to get a test.

The Nelson Marlborough community did a fantastic job in Phase One of stamping out Omicron, said Nelson Marlborough Healths medical officer of health Dr Stephen Bridgman.

This delayed the spread of infection in the community meaning more people were able to get boosted and prepared.

We know that we cannot stop Omicron. The escalation of cases in Nelson over the past two days shows how quickly it can spread and how disruptive it can be to workplaces and schools. It also shows how prepared education and workplaces are in supporting employees, students and communities through Omicron.

On Wednesday the country moved to phase two in the Omicron response plan.

That means that isolation periods have reduced to 10 days for positive cases and household contacts, and seven days for close contacts.

Under phase two, isolation periods for people with Covid will reduce to 10 days, while isolation for close contracts will drop to seven days.

Contact tracing will also change, with positive cases required to fill out an online form to identify high-risk exposure events.

New Zealand King Salmon sustainability and stakeholder manager Paul McIntyre said staff who had tested positive had been on the night shift on Monday.

Of those who tested positive, there were 66 close contacts, all who were self-isolating at home.

Previously, Bloomfield had said there were 250 close contacts at New Zealand King Salmon.

McIntyre said all relevant staff had been tested, and all staff in the processing plant had access to RAT kits.

Nelson Zealand King Salmon had been designated a critical business by the Government, which allowed double-vaccinated asymptomatic close contacts to return to work following a negative RAT test.

Staff would be paid sick-leave if they tested positive for Covid-19 if they had sick-leave available.

Our policy is that anyone who is awaiting a PCR test are to self-isolate until the results of the test is known.

Exports to China had been stopped as soon as they knew about the cases. Otherwise they were supplying to all other markets.

McIntyre said their primary concern was to keep team members safe in this emerging situation.

We are working closely with the NMDHB and Ministry of Health to ensure the correct protocols and processes are being followed to avoid any spread in the community.

Braden Fastier/Stuff

The Saxton Fields testing station in Nelson.

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Positive cases in New Zealand King Salmon processing plant - Stuff.co.nz