From 11:59pm Feb 24th New Zealand will be in Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak.
Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) has started as an alternative to the
lengthy PCR testing. At testing stations they will decide which type of
test is more appropriate case by case as presented.
RAT testing does not need to be followed up with a PCR test.
People should only get tested for COVID-19 if they are symptomatic or are a household contact.
A Close Contact is not a Household Contact.
At Phase 3, Close Contacts no longer need to isolate - unless they have
symptoms. If you get a notification from your workplace, school or
through the NZ COVID Tracer app that you are a Close Contact, you should
monitor your symptoms for 10 days.
If you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you
are considered a Household Contact and will need to isolate for 10 days. You must get a test on Day 3 and Day 10 of your isolation. If you develop symptoms you should get a test sooner. If you are a Household Contact and you test positive, you will need to isolate for 10 days.
If you are currently a Close Contact (prior to Feb25) and are part
way through your isolation, and have no symptoms, you do not need to complete your 10 days
isolation and you are permitted to leave. You do not need to get a
negative COVID-19 test.
Critical workers who are Household Contacts will still be able to use
RATs tests to return to work, if they are fully vaccinated and do not
have any COVID-19 symptoms. They will need to return a negative RAT
before they go to work.
Phase One
Positive cases must self-isolate for 14 days (and only be releases by a health official)
Close contacts need to quarantine for 10 days (test days five and eight, if symptomatic, then test immediately)
Only PCR testing acceptable at this stage
Phase Two
Positive cases need to self-isolate for 10 days (can self-release after day 10 if no symptoms for 72 hours)
Close contacts need to quarantine for seven days (test on day five)
RAT testing acceptable with PCR followup
Phase Three
Positive cases need to isolate for 10 days (self-release after day 10 if no symptoms for 72 hours)
Household contacts need to quarantine for ten days (test if symptomatic)
RAT or PCR testing acceptable alone
Workers registered under the Critical Workforce Registration System and health workers have different rules and will be supported by public health guidance to enable close contacts to work.
For more information and registering as a critical service please see the Government website:
www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/close-contact-exemption-scheme/
From February 16th 2022 isolation periods come down to 10 and 7 days for COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts respectively, which is more in line with best practice overseas.
Paying absent staff
What to pay staff when sick or isolating is the next challenge.
There are many different scenarios which can occur when people are sick or forced to isolate during this coming period. The best way to explain is with some scenarios:
Scenario 1 (staff has Covid) :
Employee is sick with Covid-19 – the employee can take sick leave (if no other subsidy scheme payment is received) or the employer can apply for the LSS.
LSS payment is used to cover the leave period and sick leave or annual leave (if sick leave exhausted), can be used to top up the wages to 100% in the event of a short fall.
Scenario 2 (staff needs to test) :
Employee is sick/has symptoms and awaiting testing results – can take sick leave (if no other subsidy scheme payment is received) or the employer can apply for the STAP.
STAP can be used to cover this period and sick leave or annual leave (if sick leave exhausted), can be used as a top up.
Scenario 3 (staff needs to test) :
Employee not sick, but need to test due to valid reason (employee must provide a valid reason for the test and time off needed for this) – the employer can apply for the STAP and the employee and the employer can agree to use annual leave to top up the amount. If there is no agreement for the use of annual leave – look to your pandemic clause. This is not sick leave as the employee is not sick.
Scenario 4 (staff must isolate) :
Employee needs to isolate due to having covid or other covid related reason and can and does work from home – normal wages.
Employee needs to isolate due to having covid and cannot work from home – LSS and top up from sick or annual leave if no sick leave available.
Employee needs to isolate due to close contact/health directive/or dependant and cannot work from home – LSS and top up with annual leave or special leave. Special leave can be agreed between the employer and employee, this is not an obligation of the employer but rather an addition benefit to the employee.
Note: For an employee's Annual Holidays to be used, the employee must be in agreement and know it's their choice.
The following Government schemes are currently available:
Short term absence payment - STAP ($359.00 once off payment / once every 30 days)
www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/short-term-absence-payment/how-to-apply.html
Leave Support Scheme - LSS ($600.00 or $359.00 weekly payments)
www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/leave-support-scheme/how-to-apply.html