The change means rapid antigen testing will no longer be alternative to vaccination, NSW Health said. “In order to work outside their area of concern, authorised workers must now have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday 6 September,” the department said in a statement late on Friday.“In line with the amended public health order, if an authorised worker is not vaccinated or does not have a medical contraindication form, they will not be able to work outside their LGA.”Authorised workers aged under 16 will be exempt from the requirement to be vaccinated.A relevant care worker aged 16 and over who lives or works in an area of concern must also have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by September 6, in order to attend work. This includes those working in an early education and care facility or disability support services.Rapid antigen testing will no longer be an alternative to vaccination.NSW Health said it has pledged to advise industry on the important role rapid antigen testing can play to protect workers and stop virus spread, as well as the types of workplaces that may benefit, and inform COVID-19 Workplace Checklists and safety work plans.“Vaccination is highly encouraged and workers from the local government areas of concern are offered priority bookings for vaccination,” the department said.Priority Pfizer vaccination appointments are available for all authorised workers aged over 16 living in local government areas of concern.These include authorised workers from the local government areas of Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith, Strathfield.
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