Acts Online
GT Shield

Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Notices

Directions regarding the phased return of children to Early Childhood Development Programmes and Partial Care Facilities

8. Screening

 

(1) An early childhood development programme or partial care facility must conduct screening in accordance with the Department of Health Guidelines.

 

(2) A person who enters the premises where an early childhood development programme or partial care facility operates, must be screened to ascertain whether such a person has any of the observable symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as fever, cough, sore throat, redness of eyes, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing.

 

(3) A person who has any of the symptoms referred to in subdirection (2) or who experiences additional symptoms such as body aches, loss of smell or loss of taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness or tiredness, while at an early childhood development programme or partial care facility, must immediately report such symptoms to the compliance officer or designated official.

 

(4) If a person has or displays the symptoms referred to in subdirections (1) and (2), or informs the compliance officer or the designated official of having such symptoms, the early childhood development programme or partial care facility must—
(a) not permit the person to enter the premises; or
(b) not permit the child to enter the premises, except where the child is not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in which case the child may enter the premises and must then be dealt with in the same manner as outlined in item (c); or
(c) if the person is already on the premises of an early childhood development programme or partial care facility—
(i) immediately isolate the person and require that person, or in the case of a child, advise the parent or guardian, to make arrangements to be transported in a manner that does not place any other person or members of the public at risk, either to be self-isolated or for a medical examination or testing;
(ii) assess the risk of transmission, disinfect the area and any staff member's workstation or area where the child participated in learning activities, refer those persons who may be at risk for screening and take any other appropriate measure to prevent possible transmission; and
(iii) inform the parent or legal guardian of a child without delay.

 

(5) If there is evidence that a staff member contracted COVID-19 as a result of occupational exposure, the staff member may lodge a claim for compensation in terms of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993 (Act No. 130 of 1993) in accordance with Notice 193 published on 3 March 2020, if applicable.

 

(6) If a person has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated in accordance  with the Department of Health Guidelines, an early childhood development programme or partial care facility may allow the return of such a person to the early childhood development programme or partial care facility only if such a person has—
(a) undergone a medical evaluation in line with the Regulations; and
(b) tested negative for COVID-19.

 

(7) If, on the advice and direction of the Department of Health, an early childhood development programme or a partial care facility is directed to close due to the risk of transmission of COVID-19, the early childhood development programme or partial care facility must close immediately and—
(a) inform all parents immediately of such a closure;
(b) inform the provincial department of social development in writing of such closure within 24 hours;
(c) adhere to the conditions and measures prescribed by the Department of Health with regard to the closure and the disinfection of all areas and equipment; and
(d) only reopen on the date as directed by the Department of Health.