COVID UPDATE BY JESSIE TAYLOR
New COVID-19 regulations to impact on how employers manage occupational health
C
OVID-19 cases have seen a resurgence across the country, with Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape all recording higher numbers. The increase in cases comes as the South African government works to finalise regulations to replace the National State of Disaster. While a number of rules remain in place, the lifting of the State of Disaster has brought some changes to how COVID-19 is managed in the workplace. BEYOND THE STATE OF DISASTER President Cyril Ramaphosa said the introduction of the State of Disaster and associated lockdown restrictions had been essential tools in managing the pandemic and had allowed for the establishment of social relief schemes and other necessary regulations. The State of Disaster and its powers were always intended to be temporary and limited, and once the number of hospitalisation and deaths had reduced, the regulations were lifted in favour of new legislation to be promulgated under the National Health Act. The State of Disaster was lifted on 5 April, with the regulations left in place for 30 days to allow the National Health Department to submit alternative regulations under the National Health Act, which would manage any future COVID-19 restrictions. In a recent media briefing, Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla said more than 300 000 comments were received on the department’s proposed regulations. These are being addressed and will be processed for adoption in May. Some of the regulations that have been dropped in the scrapping of the National State of Disaster include workplace specific rules. In the workplace, masks are still mandatory in all indoor spaces for anyone older than six years. This is also applicable to any forms of mass transport supplied to employees, as no public transport may be used without a mask.
34 | Public Sector Leaders | May 2022
