A guideline document for all spheres of government to stop the spread of a novel coronavirus, declared a National Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa has been issued by the Department of Public Service and Administration.
For Public servants to protect themselves and others from the COVID-19 virus, the guideline documents is encouraging them to implement the following precautionary measures:
- Washing their hands frequently. Hands must be washed often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing;
- If soap and water are not readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol can be used;
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
- At least one (1) meter distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing must be maintained;
- Avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth;
- Covering their cough or sneeze with a tissue, and disposing of the tissue safely afterwards;
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces;
- Wearing of masks is not necessary unless taking care of an infected person. It is recommended that only infected people wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus; and
- Employees who have a fever, cough and have difficulty breathing must seek medical attention immediately.
- Departments must take as a minimum, the following steps to manage /contain the spread of the virus:
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- Conduct a risk assessment to identify the risks of a COVID-19 outbreak in the department. Identify areas in the department where provisions against COVID-19 are still inadequate and processes to immediately/urgently correct these.
- Revise existing health and safety provisions in the department.
- Establish a departmental steering committee including Organised Labour to deal with all issues concerning COVID-19 reporting directly to the Head of Department.
- Focus on communicating and consider a dedicated email address where all cases involving COVID-19 must be reported.
- Develop guidelines, action plans and protocols to manage any confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff or in your buildings. Protocols issued by the NDoH must be taken into consideration when drafting guidelines and action plans. Departments must ensure that these protocols are aligned to national directives and advice.
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- Departments must classify their services in terms of Direct, Indirect, Back End and Transversal and inform citizens of which key services they will make available during the three (3) month period that is:
- Has the department decided to limit some of its services to better manage crowds and gatherings;
- Where online services are provided citizens must be encouraged to use these services;
- Departments must ensure that all visitors entering and leaving the department must be recorded.
- Departments must identify a facility/sickbay for isolation purposes. The facility should be well ventilated and be regularly cleaned.
- Departments must classify their services in terms of Direct, Indirect, Back End and Transversal and inform citizens of which key services they will make available during the three (3) month period that is:
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With regard to frontline employees who work directly with members of the public, the guideline documents recommend the following precautionary measures:
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- Provide frontline employees with the necessary protective equipment, e.g. latex gloves, etc. in handling documents and assisting citizens;
- Provide frontline employees with sufficient training to assist them to identify the risks and mitigating it sufficiently;
- Ensure the workspace of frontline employees have sufficient facilities for them to wash their hands;
- Ensure the cleaning of the hard surfaces e.g. workstations, countertops, and doorknobs on an hourly basis. The cleaning of the surfaces must be recorded on a two (2) hourly basis;
- Ensure frontline employees are conversant with the protocols pertaining to COVID-19 in order to respond timeously to identify risks and;
- Prevention of close or physical contact in the workplace, such as shaking hands.
- On the issue of closing down of a unit, component, office or department in case where an employee tested positive or COVID-19, the first step is to report the exposure and incident to the National Department of Health.
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- The department must contact the relevant public health officials to discuss the case, identify people who have been exposed and advise on any actions or precautions that should be taken.
- The public health officials and advice on the management of the occurrence based on this assessment will conduct an assessment of the unit/component/office.
- The assessment decision to close a unit/component/office in the department is the prerogative of the Head of Department and will be based on the advice of the public health officials.
- The closure of a unit/component/office must be considered with due regard to the extent of the exposure and its implications on health and safety including service delivery needs of the department.
- Report the actions to the DPSA via the dedicated email address, COVID-19@dpsa.gov.za.The terms and conditions attached to the granting of sick leave as stipulated in the Determination and Directive on Leave of Absence in the Public Service must be adhered to. If the employee’s sick leave is exhausted, he/she may apply for incapacity leave. The terms and conditions attached to the granting of sick leave as stipulated in the Determination and Directive on Leave of Absence in the Public Service must be adhered to. If the employee’s sick leave is exhausted, he/she may apply for incapacity leave.
- According to the DPSA guidelines, departments must develop their respective internal protocols and communication strategies for the management of frontline staff and members of the public to ensure the continuation of service delivery in their respective sectors in line with protocols on the management of COVID-19, issued by the National Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
- If an employee has been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus and quarantine/isolation is advised by a medical practitioner sick leave may be granted for the duration of the period the employee needs to be quarantined or isolated.
- If an employer requires an employee to self-quarantine/isolate at home as a precautionary measure in the public interest and the safety of other employees the absence may be dealt with in terms of Public Service Regulation 51 of the Public Service Regulations, 2016.
- If an employee contracted COVID-19 and compulsory quarantine/isolation is advised by a medical practitioner sick leave may be granted for the duration of the period the employee needs to be quarantined or isolated.
Departments, such as those in the Security sector, like the Correctional Services, Home Affairs to mention but a few that have to deliver front line services and engage with the public should issue guidelines for their offices.