COVID-19: Revised Guidelines for symptom monitoring and management of workers for SARS-CoV-2 infection (version 5: 19 August 2020)

The National Department of Health has published Revised Guidelines for symptom monitoring and management of workers for SARS-CoV-2 infection (version 5: 19 August 2020).

In the new guidelines, by voluntary agreement, healthcare workers exposed and quarantined may now return to work after 5 days if they test negative and are still well.

What is new in this version?

1. Reference to essential workers has been removed such that the guideline will apply to all workers covered by the Department of Employment and Labour Directive dated 4 June 2020.

2. Fever has been removed as a key symptoms of COVID-19, replaced by loss of smell or taste.

3. Management of asymptomatic worker with high exposure risk and decision on return to work originally referred to workers in the essential services. This now applies to all workers.

4. For Health Workers, a new Voluntary option has been added for post-exposure - In agreement with health worker, test on day 5 and if negative and well, return to work & follow work restrictions.

Questions or queries? Contact SAMA at covid19@samedical.org

The new guideline will also be posted on the SAMA COVID-19 webpage at https://www.samedical.org/covid-19/main

The South African Medical Association - Postal Address-The South African Medical Association P O Box 74789,Lynnwood Ridge Pretoria 0040, South Africa Physical address The South African Medical Association, Block F Castle Walk Corporate Park Nossob Street Erasmuskloof Ext3 Pretoria 0181,
South Africa www.samedical.org

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