These guidelines are applicable to all essential services workers covered by regulation GN R.398 of Government Gazette 43148 under section 3 of the Disaster Management Act, 1957 (Act 57 of 2002) as amended on 25 March 2020 wherein essential services are defined in Annexure B (see Addendum 1).

The aim of this guideline is to enable:

• Early and timeous identification and diagnosis of workers at risk of COVID-19 infection  
• Early referral for appropriate treatment, care and timeous return to work of affected workers
• The protection of other unaffected workers, consumers, visitors and clients of these groups of workers