Adam, SumaiyaMaswime, SalomeSoma-Pillay, PriyaMatjila, MushiChauke, LawrenceBotha, Matthys H.Pattinson, Robert Clive2021-08-262021-08-262020-06Adam, S., Maswime, S., Soma-Pillay, P. et al. 2020, 'Judicious use of personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in maternity units', South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 2-3.0038-2329 (print)2078-5135 (online)10.7196/SAJOG.2020.v26i1.1605http://hdl.handle.net/2263/81509More than 300 women give birth in South Africa (SA) every day. An increasing number of midwives, obstetricians and gynaecologists have tested positive for COVID-19 in SA, and this has led to the closures of maternity units. Recently, General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province in SA closed after 16 healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus, necessitating the redirection of patients to other healthcare centres in the area. Antenatal care and safe childbirth are crucial and cannot be postponed, making pregnant women and obstetric HCWs a vulnerable population for healthcare facility transmission. Reducing antenatal care consultations is associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Therefore it is imperative that maternity services remain functional.en© 2020 Health and Medical Publishing Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 3.0) .MorbidityWomenBirthSouth Africa (SA)COVID-19 pandemicCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Healthcare workers (HCWs)Antenatal care (ANC)Article