According to the SAMRC, excess deaths would comprise COVID-19 deaths that are confirmed, COVID-19 deaths that have not been confirmed, as well as other deaths that may arise from conditions that might normally have been diagnosed and treated had the public been willing and able to access healthcare services. In terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Act (Act No. 18 of 2010), all deaths need to be certified by a medical practitioner. The Emergency Medical personnel may declare a death; and a notice of death to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) must be given by the informant within 72 hours of the death. Where a death occurs in a rural area where there is no access to a medical practitioner, the informant notifies the local chief, who completes the death notification (DHA-1680) form submitted to the DHA. This document provides specific guidance for the collection and submission of COVID-19 postmortem specimens from all people who died of natural causes outside health facilities. It covers those who were not tested for COVID-19 prior to death. Recommendations for biosafety and infection control practices during specimen collection and handling are also included. This document draws on interim guidelines from the Centres for Disease Control1 and Prevention as well as local guidelines for specimen packaging and transport.