Food and emergency workers given special status as official case numbers remain high

As local case numbers soar, critical workers in the food logistics and manufacturing and emergency services sectors will be given special status as close contacts, permitting them to leave self-isolation to attend work if they have no symptoms of COVID-19, to ensure the state has continued access to essential goods and services.

The official local daily case numbers for the Central Coast is 1121*, and sadly one woman has died in one of our local hospitals. See CCN’s daily reported case tally since December here.

Workers in those industries will only be eligible to leave self-isolation if their employer determines that their absence from the workplace poses a high risk of disruption to the delivery of critical services or activities, and they are unable to work from home.

These exempt workers must wear a mask and comply with risk-management strategies put in place by their employer, including daily Rapid Antigen Tests.

• agriculture (biosecurity and food safety personnel undertaking critical duties)
• manufacturing (production and manufacturing of food, beverages, groceries, cleaning and sanitary products)
• transport, postal and warehousing (food logistics, delivery and grocery fulfilment)
• emergency services workers who are necessary for the delivery of critical services

For more information refer to Guidance on the exemption of critical workers from the Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 4) 20

*It should be noted that these figures still do not include data from Rapid Antigen Tests. The PCR test data here is only indicative and is NOT an accurate reflection of the daily local cases.

_{Verified information source: Media releases, NSW Health Jan 9, 2022}