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Foodbanks guidance in traffic light settings
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The following guidance has been prepared to ensure that foodbank services can operate safely within the COVID-19 Protection Framework.
Definition of a foodbank
An activity where chilled, ambient and frozen foods are collected and assembled into a parcel which is distributed to service user (whānau).
COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates (CVCs)
Category 1 services must be open to all people and therefore foodbanks must not request to view COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates from the users of their service.
Staff and volunteer vaccination requirements
We strongly recommend that foodbanks only use staff and volunteers that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Traffic light settings
These guidelines ensure your foodbank service can operate safely under each traffic light setting.
Red
- Health and safety as well as safe food handling guidelines apply.
- Service must be contactless.
Orange
- Health and safety as well as safe food handling guidelines apply.
- Service must be contactless.
Green
- Health and safety as well as safe food handling guidelines apply.
- You must ensure people scan the QR code or use an alternative form of contact record system.
MSD's advice to foodbanks
If your foodbank is within orange or red areas, our general advice is to:
- Move to a contactless service, this includes deliveries
- Limit the number of people on site so everyone can follow distancing requirements
- Offer flexible working arrangements, for example, staggered meal breaks, or staggered start and finish times to help with physical distancing
- Consider having your teams work in different bubbles, so if one bubble needs to stand down another can continue to operate.
- Clean and disinfect your workplace regularly
- Provide employees with hand washing facilities
- Ensure contract tracing for all staff and clients
- Follow appropriate PPE and face covering requirements for staff, volunteers and clients
- Ensure vulnerable staff and volunteers stay home
- Ensure that all staff and volunteers have access to your business continuity plan and are well briefed on the new procedures.