The following services are permitted under Health, Social and Personal Services:
- Medical and veterinary services
- Cleaning and sanitation services
- Mortuary services
- Other public services: disaster management services, military medical personnel
- Trade union essential staff for workers covered by Alert Level 4, subject to Directions
The following services are listed as Essential Services:
- Medical, Health (including Mental Health), Laboratory and Medical services and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases are considered essential services.
- Care services and social relief of distress provided to older persons, the mentally ill, persons with disabilities, the sick, and children.
- Call centres necessary to provide health, safety and social support.
- Production and sale of any chemicals, hygiene products, pharmaceuticals for the medical or retail sector.
The following is permitted under retail and wholesale:
- Hand sanitiser, disinfectants, soap, alcohol for industrial use, household cleaning products, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Medical and hospital supplies, medicine, equipment and personal protective equipment.
- Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of these products.
- Textiles required to produce face masks and other PPE.
Workplace Safety
All persons who are able to work from home should do so.
Anybody falling under the specific activities mentioned above can work outside the home and can travel to and from work under Alert Level 4.
This is subject to:
– Strict health protocols, and social distancing rules;
– Phased-in return to work to enable measures to make the workplace is COVID-ready
– Returning to work to be done in a manner that avoids and reduces risks of infection.
Anybody that is permitted to work outside their home under Level 4 must carry a Permit to Perform an Essential or Permitted Service (click here to download), issued by the head of the company or institution. This permit must always be accompanied by identification.
The Department of Small Business Development may issue further Directions related to small and micro enterprises, co-operatives, informal traders and spaza shops. (This question will be updated if such Directions are issued).
This is set out in the Disaster Management Regulations issued on 29 April 2020, available here.