DCS head office to be decontaminated

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Dear Colleagues,

A confirmed case of COVID-19 was received yesterday (10 April 2020) evening from a female colleague stationed at DCS Head Office, Poyntons Building, Tshwane.

As part of COVID-19 protocols, and the Department’s COVID-19 National Disaster Response Plan, staff who came into contact with the colleague have been identified, and requested to isolate at home whilst awaiting testing.

The head office official is based at the Chief Directorate: Health Care Services, East Block, and reported for duty on 30 March and again on 8 April 2020. With the exception of these two days, since the commencement of the lockdown period, she was working from home in line with the lockdown requirements. The official was not in office on 9 and 10 April 2020.

Her office is in the 8th floor, East Block. She also attended a meeting in the boardroom on the 10th floor, East Block.

Direct contacts of the official have been identified, and the Department is liaising with the relevant officials and health authorities in this regard.

An instruction was given to security in the East Block foyer not to allow any employees on to the 8th and 10th floors, East Block, until it has been decontaminated.

The Head Office Operations Centre has cordoned off the offices, and is preparing to decontaminate them as well as the lifts, meeting rooms and ablution facilities on the aforementioned floors.

It should be noted that the virus remains on surfaces for at least 24 hours, and more than 48 hours have lapsed since the official has been at work.

The Department has escalated Containment and Treatment Measures, and is promoting a culture of seeking early medical attention, in line with the DCS COVID-19 National Disaster Response Plan. NICD mass screening scheduled for all DCS facilities will also assist the Department in its efforts of averting rapid spread of the virus.

Correctional Services is working round-the-clock in the interests of the wellbeing of our staff and offenders.

On behalf of the National Commissioner and Management, we wish our colleague a speedy recovery.

 

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