The Manufacturers' Association prepares independent researchers to reduce unnecessary isolations and prevent incorrect placements • President of the organization: "Everything is being done to allow the industry to continue working in the shadow of restrictions"
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Photo:
Liron Moldovan
The Manufacturers' Association has begun training epidemiological investigators, who will be authorized to conduct investigations if a verified patient is discovered in factories, in order to reduce the number of isolations required, to refine investigations and prevent incorrect identifications.
The researchers will be trained through an online program by John Hopkins University in the United States, which also uses the IDF's epidemiological investigation system, headquartered in Alon.
The Ministry of Health has approved the Manufacturers' Association to hold the trainings.
The trained researchers will not be able to put people in solitary confinement and take them out on their own, but will be able to get immediate answers from the Ministry of Health instead of the current appeal process, which takes four to five days.
Photo: Mazawi Communications, the Ministry of Health's information system
Data from the Manufacturers' Association show that workplaces are considered safe and are not a significant source of infection: 1.7% of workers in industry were isolated, 0.94% of workers were found to be sick in Corona and in 90% of cases the infection did not occur in the workplace.
In 7% of cases one or two workers were infected, in 1% of cases 3-4 workers were infected and in 1% of cases 5-7 workers were infected.
The situation room of the Manufacturers' Association has so far dealt with 1,300 dismissals of workers from 150 companies from incorrect insulation.
The association's survey also found that in about half of the factories the location messages were incorrect, and some were canceled after an appeal.
In addition, a pilot is currently being completed for a dedicated application, more advanced than the "shield", which identifies the exact location of the workers in the factory area and can distinguish between different floors and heights, thus isolating contacts more efficiently.
Operating the array will allow factories to continue producing even in the event of tightening restrictions.
If a corona patient is found in the factory, it will be possible to isolate the exact number of people who were near it and who are at risk, and not to isolate a large number of workers unnecessarily.
The president of the Manufacturers' Association, Dr. Ron Tomer: "Out of a responsibility to our employees and the public not to suffer from a shortage of products, we decided to formulate a comprehensive plan and lead ourselves to prevent infection.
To date, the rate of contagion in industry is minor and stands at less than 1%, which indicates the seriousness and investment that manufacturers attach to the issue.
We will continue to do everything we can to allow the industry to continue working, even if, God forbid, the restrictions are tightened. "
Lior Levy, CEO of the Biscol Group and Chairman of the Business Continuity Forum at the association: "We have initiated a unique system that transfers the reins to the manufacturers and will allow production to continue with all its might, even in the shadow of closure and while minimizing the risk of infection."