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The union representing LSG Sky Chefs worker who tested positive for Covid-19 says the woman followed all the rules to protect herself while at work.
An LSG Sky Chefs van seen at Auckland Airport. (File photo).
Photo: RNZ / Teresa Cowie
Meanwhile, thousands of workers closer to the border could be in line for mandatory tests or daily saliva tests as the government considers expanding both systems.
The LSG Sky Chefs employee works in a team of nine at the company’s Māngere catering and laundry facilities.
She is responsible for washing and ironing linens, napkins, blankets and sheets on incoming flights.
Despite previous suggestions, it has been clarified that the woman does not handle the uniforms of international aircrews. He also has no face-to-face contact with the crew or travelers, or access to the airport.
How he contracted the virus has puzzled health authorities, but his workplace remains a favored theory.
E Tū Aviation Representative Savage said LSG Sky Chefs encouraged testing and was a good example of a proactive employer.
“The company has been encouraging people to go beyond the surveillance tests that have been put in place and encouraging people to get regular tests.”
The woman who contracted the virus was diligent in following the guidelines, Savage said.
“She was following all the rules and regulations that were given to her. But we just have to check everything and see if we can find out what happened and try to close the gap.”
Savage said other LSG Sky Chefs workers were apprehensive but similarly followed official processes.
Now was the time to make sure LSG Sky Chefs systems were watertight, he said.
“We are reassured that the Ministry of Health is in place today. Other than that, we want to go and see what happened ourselves and see if any systemic change in health and safety is needed.”
Savage’s main desire is that all workers have access to the appropriate personal protective equipment.
Saliva tests are considered an additional layer of security.
But some opposition epidemiologists and MPs are clamoring for widespread mandatory testing.
They say the government should force thousands more workers to clean themselves, pushing the case for daily saliva tests.
In response, the government said it was looking into it this week.
Rako Science, a private company founded in Aotearoa, researches and produces daily saliva tests in Illinois.
The scientist from Victoria University of Wellington, Janet Pitman, has carried out validation tests.
Dr. Pitman said they were as effective as pushing swabs up the nose.
“The Rako Science saliva test has a couple of small steps that are perhaps better than other saliva tests and the result of that is that it is probably more accurate than other saliva tests,” he said. Control.
The tests can detect the virus when someone is asymptomatic and can be performed by non-medical professionals.
The company is processing just 20 tests per day at the moment from Auckland Airport and that is spreading to some managed quarantine and isolation facilities in major cities.
Rako Science Co-Director Leon Grice said they were ready to rapidly improve the tests in a matter of days if they were given the green light.
Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield wanted more local testing to show that daily saliva tests were quick and accurate.
But Grice said quick change was already on offer.
“The team is closing the collection sites at 1:00 PM at the airport and cooking the samples on site. They are on the road at 2:00 PM.”
If those tests are positive, health officials are notified immediately.
Grice said saliva tests would provide another tool in the effort to keep Covid-19 out of the community.
