Member Advisory – COVID-19
19 August 2021
Please check https://fedfarm.org.nz for COVID-19 updates
Business Continuity Planning
Essential work is continuous work. We are therefore encouraging members to consider what supplies (business as usual and emergency) you may need to have on hand to get through this current period of uncertainty. Contact your suppliers and make arrangements to be able to access services or pick up essential items. We also encourage you to have a plan should you or someone who works for you were to contract COVID-19.
Please ensure all travel is minimised. NZ Police are enforcing COVID-19 restrictions and checkpoints through education and encouragement, but are ready to take enforcement action, so we would rather this not be you.
Inland Revenue has updated COVID-19 information here
(https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19)
Is it Essential?
We have created a critical thinking
‘Is it essential?’ flow chart for you to follow. However, if you are unsure if it is ‘essential’ or not, and it can wait a few days, it probably isn’t essential.
Masks
You legally must wear a face covering if you are an employee or customer at a business or service operating at Alert Level 4 involving customer contact. This would mean farms are generally excluded in this definition; however, we are advising that a precautionary approach should be taken and masks worn whenever there are any external visitors to your place of business. We encourage you to adopt this same precautionary approach where physical distancing is minimised or in enclosed areas.
Meat Processors
Meat Processors across the country are monitoring the current situation closely and are confident that prioritisation of stock classes and forward planning will see any disruption minimised. We are in contact with the Meat Industry Association and will inform you of any changes to the current situation. If in doubt talk to your livestock agent or Meat Company, book early and continue to communicate. Our advice is to take up any offers of space to ensure meat processors are able to work at their full, COVID-19 restricted, capacity.
The Delta Variant of COVID-19
Now is not the time to be complacent.
Quick Facts:
- More than twice as contagious as previous strains - On average one person will infect 5-6 others
- Symptoms are more severe and a there is higher risk of needing hospitalisation.
- You can be infectious without any symptoms
- You can be fully vaccinated and still contract the Delta variant
Andrew Hoggard
President Federated Farmers
Terry Copeland
CE Federated Farmers