When an "essential worker" becomes a close contact with the new coronavirus, the waiting period is set to be shorter than that of the general public, and it will be two months soon.
In order to shorten the time, it is necessary for the business operator to inspect and manage it by himself, but there are many companies who forgo the shortening because it is difficult to distribute the kit and check the inspection result.
Close contacts of people infected with the new corona are required to wait at home, etc., but the national government generally waits for essential workers on January 14, provided that the test is negative twice. I decided to make it shorter than other people.
Currently, it is said that the number of day for essential workers is 5 days, compared to 7 days for ordinary people, and while it is being used more and more in medical institutions, some people say that it is difficult to deal with it.
Last month, NHK interviewed 28 major railway and bus companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area, as well as companies in various regions where flights were reduced due to the impact of the new Corona, and took measures to set the waiting period to 5 days. There were three companies.
Reasons for not shortening include the shortage of test kits, the immediate distribution of test kits to employees waiting at home, and the difficulty of the company witnessing the test and checking the results. Is floating as an issue.
Production and import of test kits are increasing, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said, "The shortage of test kits has been resolved. I want you to do it. "
Distribution of test kits and confirmation of results are hurdles
The Odakyu Bus, which operates in Tokyo and Kanagawa, has a shortage of drivers due to a total of 10 people infected with the new corona and close contacts at the Musashino City sales office. 98 flights a day are suspended.
While some users of routes that are out of service say, "When I use the bus in the morning, the number of buses has decreased and the inside of the car has become crowded and" dense ", which is a problem." As the situation continues, I think the bus driver will have a hard time. There is no help for some inconvenience. "
Odakyu Bus examined whether the waiting period for employees who became close contacts could be set to 5 days, but it is difficult to prepare for inspections for all close contacts with more than 1,300 employees, so the accuracy of the inspection kit I was worried about it, so I gave it up.
The person in charge said, "The hurdle was how to distribute the test kit and who and how to check the test result as a company. It is difficult to get support from another sales office, so we have to reduce the number of flights for a while." It is said that.
Employees of close contacts can also be inspected with their own car
Businesses that work for key workers need to devise various ways to carry out inspections themselves.
The Kumamoto Toshi Bus, which is headquartered in Kumamoto City, has been reduced on some routes since late January due to a series of people infected with the new corona and close contacts.
After the country decided to shorten the waiting period for key workers, we immediately negotiated directly with the wholesale manufacturer to prevent further reductions in flights and secured the test kits that were scarce at the time.
Taisuke Sakamoto, the manager of the Kumamoto Toshi Bus, said, "I arrived at a wholesale company by introducing people, and I got it when I was told,'The remaining amount is the last.'"
When actually conducting inspections, we take measures to have employees who have become close contacts come to the parking lot of the head office by car.
The advantage is that you can save the trouble of handing out the inspection kit and avoid contact if you are in your car, and the manager will check the inspection from outside the car.
It was possible because the employee who became a close contact had his own car and there was a large space to park, so Mr. Sakamoto said, "I chose this method to thoroughly prevent infection. The timetable turns. Since there are few people at the site and it is difficult, it is different in managing the operation to be able to return as soon as possible. "