A union fears slow efforts to procure Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (Rats) are putting already understaffed prisons at further risk of buckling when the Omicron variant hits.
The Department of Corrections acknowledged it was using Rats at only four prisons but said it was working to roll out the tests on a wider scale and had contingency plans in place for potential staffing issues.
Corrections Association New Zealand president Floyd Du Plessis said he would like to see Rats introduced to all prisons as an additional layer of protection against the Covid-19 Omicron outbreak.
"It makes no sense at all" corrections officers were prioritised for access to vaccines but not Rats, Mr Du Plessis said.
The union regarded widespread access to Rats as an extra line of defence in addition to existing protocols.
Otago and Southland had been fortunate so far when it came to Covid-19, but a widespread outbreak was a question of "not if, but when", Mr Du Plessis said.
He could not see any logical reason for the lack of action on front-line staff getting access to Rats.
"There definitely seems to have been a very slow response."
Saliva tests had not been rolled out either, he said.
The Omicron outbreak could have a significant effect on staffing levels, which in some areas were already stretched.
Filling gaps by reallocating staff across different facilities risked further spreading Covid-19, Mr Du Plessis said.
The union had pushed bubbles for staff but efforts were hindered by ongoing staff shortages.
Some areas were better than others and Mr Du Plessis hailed the department’s overall Covid-19 response, saying it was very quick to stand down staff testing positive and go through contact tracing.
"The staff have done an amazing job," he said.
"But if we can have access to those extra little things it will make everybody safer."
Department of Corrections chief custodial officer Neil Beales confirmed Rats were being used in only four North Island facilities: Auckland Prison, Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility, Mt Eden Corrections Facility and Northland Region Corrections Facility.
Rats had been used in the facilities since November 2021 as a day zero test for inmates.
The department was working with the Ministry of Health to determine any expansion of testing to other prisons, as well as their use for prison staff.
Staff who worked in high-risk environments were encouraged to undertake weekly PCR surveillance testing, and any positive Rats would have to be followed up with a nasal swab.
Mr Beales said the department had extensive continuity plans to safely operate at reduced staffing levels.
These had not yet needed to be activated and the department had managed 80 cases with no known transmission between prisoners or staff.
Staff could be required to assist in different facilities where there was a need to cover staffing shortfalls.
This was "nothing new" and occurred prior to the pandemic.
Public Service Association organiser Willie Cochrane called widespread adoption of Rats "the right thing to do".
The tests should be rolled out as soon as possible to staff, prisoners, contractors and visitors at every Corrections facility, he said.
