Lack of details raises support workers’ fears
WORKERS in home support services are concerned they are compromising their lockdown bubbles when caring for clients without knowing if they could have been exposed to Covid19 in the course of their duties.
E tu union delegate and National Industry Council community support Southland representative Pam King said that although personal protective equipment helped workers feel more comfortable, a lack of knowledge about the social connections of the clients they visited was cause for concern.
She had recently fallen ill after visiting a client who only gave her the relevant information after she had done the job.
While the incident was not Covid19 related, it highlighted the risk of the virus spreading, she said.
‘‘If we’re going into 20 different homes and then bringing whatever back with us, we’re bringing that virus home to our family.’’
The nature of the work made social distancing impossible; showering, feeding and brushing clients’ teeth required close contact.
A Ministry of Health spokesman said, as of April 11, there were 95 healthcare workers who were confirmed or probable Covid19 cases — 7% of total cases.
Twentytwo percent of health workers who tested positive had travelled overseas and 18% had recovered.
The ministry was working to determine how many had been infected inside the workplace, the spokesman said.
‘‘Healthcare workers are doing an amazing job on the front line and it’s important they feel safe.’’
Official advice remained unchanged in that basic hygiene measures such as frequent handwashing, physical distancing and sneeze and cough etiquette were the ‘‘mainstay in our defence against Covid19’’, the spokesman said.
‘‘Home care workers should talk to their employers about specific concerns, and employers to the DHBs.’’