Question NW945 to the Minister of Health
04 June 2020 - NW945
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
Whether his department is taking any steps to monitor how the supermarkets, malls and other entities that are accessed by the public are enforcing the Government’s regulations relating to (a) social distancing, (b) sanitising the hands of members of the public when entering and (c) the wearing of masks before allowing entry to such places; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Yes, the Department is responding to the above asked questions through its Environmental Health Practitioners who are appointed by district municipaites and metropolitan municipalities to provide Municipal Health Services. These officials are appointed as law enforcers and they are responsible to monitior all the provisions of the disaster management regualtions as far as they relate to compliance with health requirements. Any health requirements that become regulated in the different alert levels become enforceable automatically because these officials are empowered to enforce these regulations.
(a)–(c) Environmental Health Practitioners monitor compliance on social distancing, sanitasing of hands and wearing of masks at all premises including supermarkets, malls and other public places during their routine inspections on all opened premises based on the alert level. Monitoring is also done at pension pay points, spaza shops and relief application centres. Management of the premises is held accountable for ensuring observation of these control measures as provided for in the Regulations 5(3) and 5(4). The support of owners of such entities to comply is largely positive.
END.