Pixabay
South Africa's employment and labour department on Thursday stressed that workers who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 could only return to their jobs after completing 14 days of self-isolation and undergoing a medical examination.
The department issued its statement in the wake of local media reports suggesting that Covid-19 patients no longer needed to test negative to resume work.
In a statement, the department’s chief inspector for health and safety Tibor Szana said this was not correct.
In terms of the new directions, if a worker has been diagnosed with Covid-19 and isolated in accordance with the guidelines, an employer may only allow a worker to return on conditions that, the worker has completed the mandatory 14 days of self-isolation.
In addition, such workers must undergo medical evaluation confirming fitness to work if they had a moderate or severe illness in relation to the coronavirus.
Employees were also required to wear a surgical mask at least for the period of 21 days from the date of diagnosis "in their interest and the best interest of those around them especially.
The new directive also states that those who have been in contact at the workplace with those diagnosed with Covid-19 must have their exposure assessed to ascertain the risk of transmission.
- African News Agency (ANA)
