| 5.1 | There must be universal access for Persons with Disabilities in a prescribed manner, to all service points, infrastructure and any other essential service and products that are related to COVID-19. |
| 5.2 | The Department and its agencies and Non Profit Organisations, faith-based organisations and community based organisations responsible for the provision of the services in line with the restrictions imposed by Regulations issued in pursuance of the declaration of the national state of disaster, must ensure that the workforce has the necessary protective clothing and that the families take precautionary measures. |
| 5.3 | New admissions will only be processed provided that the facility complies with the Disaster Management Regulations, 2020, and the victim or client is provided with the necessary protective clothing. |
| 5.4 | Persons with Disabilities must have access to personal assistance at all service points, hospitals, screening, testing facilities, supermarkets and any other available facilities which are appropriate and where it is deemed necessary, may be provided with regular care giving services at their places of residence. |
| 5.5 | Health and Safety measures at facilities and centres managed by Department of Social Development |
| (1) | A person in charge of a facility or centre must develop and maintain protocols and guidelines of how visits will be managed in accordance with COVID-19 measures and health protocols. |
| (2) | The protocols and guidelines referred to in 5.5(1) must include the following: |
| (i) | Screen any person visiting the premises to ascertain whether they have any of the observable symptoms associated with COVID-19, namely fever, cough, sore throat, redness of eyes or shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing; |
| (ii) | Require every person to report whether they suffer from any of the following additional symptoms: body aches, loss of smell or loss of taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness or tiredness; |
| (iii) | Require every person to immediately inform the person in charge of the facility or centre or designated person if they experience any of the symptoms referred to above while at the facility or centre; |
| (iv) | If a person presents with those symptoms, or advises the person in charge of the facility or centre of these symptoms, the facility or centre must— |
| (aa) | not permit the person to enter the facility or centre or if the person is already at the centre or facility immediately isolate the person, require that the said person to make arrangements to be transported for a medical examination or testing; and |
| (bb) | assess the risk of transmission, disinfect the area and refer those persons who may be at risk for screening and take any other appropriate measure to prevent possible transmission. |
| (i) | A person in charge of the facility or centre must ensure that— |
| (aa) | minimal contact between persons is maintained; |
| (bb) | there is a minimum of one and a half metres between persons; and |
| (cc) | adherence to the Health Protocols is maintained. |
| (i) | Wearing of face masks is compulsory for the duration of any visit. |
| (d) | Sanitizers, disinfectants and other measures |
| (i) | For the purposes of these clauses, a hand sanitizer must be one that has at least 70% alcohol content, or generic alternative, and is in accordance with the recommendations of the Department of Health. |
| (ii) | Every facility or centre should ensure that there are— |
| (aa) | sufficient quantities of hand sanitizers based on the number of persons who are expected to access the facility or centre taking into consideration the number of persons to be visited; and |
| (bb) | facilities for the washing of hands with water and soap. |
| (iii) | Every facility or centre should take measures to ensure that all— |
| (aa) | surfaces and equipment are cleaned before and after every visit; and |
| (bb) | areas such as toilets, common areas, door handles, shared electronic equipment are regularly cleaned. |
| (e) | Health Protocols for Facilities or Centres |
| (i) | A person in charge of a facility or centre must ensure that seating arrangements, where applicable, are compliant with social distancing norms. |
| (ii) | A facility or centre must keep a register which should be archived for a period of not less than 6 months, with the following details of a person visiting: |
| (bb) | Residential address; and |
| (iii) | Where physical contact of an object is required, such object must be sanitised before contact by another person; and |
| (iv) | Persons over the age of 60 and people with comorbidities should be encouraged not to visit. |
[Direction 5(5.5) inserted by Notice 727, G43494, dated 2 July 2020]
