What Level 4 lockdown means to businesses

123rf.com

The president said some economic activity will be allowed to resume subject to extreme precautions to limit community transmission and outbreaks, and some businesses will be allowed to resume operations under specific conditions.

Covid-19 lockdown to move to Level 4

24 Apr 2020

Every business will have to adhere to detailed health and safety protocols to protect their employees, and workplace plans will be put in place to enable disease surveillance and prevent the spread of infection.

"All businesses that are permitted to resume operations will be required to do so in a phased manner, first preparing the workplace for a return to operations, followed by the return of the workforce in batches of no more than one-third. In some cases, a sector will not be able to return to full production during Level 4 while the risk of infection remains high," Ramaphosa said.

In a document prepared by government prior to the president's announcement, the following rules would also be imposed across all sectors and alert levels:

• Industries are encouraged to adopt a work-from-home strategy where possible, and all staff who can work remotely must be allowed to do so.
• Workers above the age of 60, as well as workers with co-morbidities identified by the Department of Health should be offered a work-from-home option or allowed to remain on leave with full pay.
• There should be workplace protocols in place that would include disease surveillance and prevention of the spread of infection.
• All employers to screen staff on a daily basis for symptoms of Covid-19, including a symptom check as well as temperature assessment.
• All employees to use a cloth mask especially where social distancing is not possible.
• Work environment to have sanitisers available or hand washing facilities with soap.
• Stringent social distancing measures should be implemented in the workplace.

The president did not provide details which sectors would be allowed to reopen and said ministers would spell out plans next week following a final round of consultations.