The Ministry of Health has a dire warning for negligent employers
Employers across New Zealand are urged to consider text messages from the Ministry of Health as proof that employees are either COVID-positive or are household contacts of COVID patients.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said this is because of the growing pressure on healthcare workers due to winter illnesses, which is further burdened by workers requesting for medical certificate as evidence to their employers that they have COVID or are household contacts.
"The Ministry of Health would like to remind employers that they can consider the text messages it sends to people positive with COVID-19 and their household contacts, as proof of needing time off work," said the government office in a statement.
According to the ministry, there are two texts messages from their office for workers who may be COVID-positive or are household contacts of an infected individual.
"Texts from 2328 or 2648 are sent to a COVID-19 positive person and any household contacts they identify," said the ministry.
"The first text confirms their COVID-19 positive test and the need to isolate, and the second confirms they can leave isolation and return to work if they feel well. Household contacts receive a text saying they are free to leave isolation if their day 7 RAT test is negative," it further explained.
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These messages can then be accepted by employers instead of asking for medical certificates, according to the ministry.
"Employers needing proof of staff taking time off work due to COVID-19 illness, or being the household contact, can use these text messages as reliable evidence rather than asking for a traditional GP 'medical certificate,' which creates additional work for general practice at a particularly busy time of year," it said.
Recently, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners requested citizens who are mildly unwell to treat their illnesses at home due to "very little spare capacity in the system."
This is due to flu, COVID-19, as well as other winter viruses that even doctors, nurses, and other members of the health workforce contract themselves, according to College of GPs medical director Bryan Betty in an interview with AM.
