COVID-19: Must South Africans test negative before returning to work?

​The Department of Employment and Labour Chief Inspector for Health and Safety Tibor Szana said workers diagnosed with COVID-19 may return to work but under strict conditions.

Here’s what needs to be done in order to return to the office.

SO DO YOU NEED TO TEST NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19? 

Szana explained that in terms of the new directions, an employer may only allow workers to return on conditions that the employee has completed the mandatory 14 days of self-isolation. 

“If a worker has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated in accordance with the Department of Health Guidelines, an employer may only allow a worker to return on conditions that the worker has completed the mandatory 14 days of self-isolation,” said Szana.

In other words, if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 but you’ve completed the 14-day period of self-isolation, then it should be “all systems go” for you to return to work. 

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and you haven’t completed the 14-day period of self-isolation, then it is not advisable to return to the office. 

Other conditions stipulate that the employee has to have undergone a medical evaluation confirming fitness if the worker had moderate or severe illness in relation to COVID-19.

Szana said it is vital for the employer to ensure that personal hygiene, wearing of masks, social distancing and cough etiquette amongst other known best practices identified, is strictly adhered to by the employee. The employer must also closely monitor the worker for symptoms upon returning to the office.

According to Szana, a worker will be required to wear a surgical mask for a period of 21 days from the date of the diagnosis in their interest and the best interest of those around them. 

WHAT IF A POSITIVE EMPLOYEE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER EMPLOYEE AT WORK? 

The new directive also states that should workers come into contact with another employee who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the employer must assess the level of exposure in accordance with the Department of Health’s Guidelines to ascertain whether it carries a high or low risk of transmission. 

“If there is low-risk exposure, the employer may permit the worker to continue working using a cloth mask complying with standard precautions and the worker’s symptoms must be monitored for 14 days from the first contact,” said Szana.

“If there is [a] high risk of exposure, the worker must remain in quarantine for 14 days, and the employer of that worker must place the worker on sick leave in accordance with clause 27.3 for that period,” said Szana.

If employers need further clarity on understanding and interpreting the direction, they may contact the Chief Inspector on 082-883-5737.