Unlock 1.0: Government issues guidelines for Offices, Hotels, Malls, Religious Places and Restaurants

As Unlock 1.0 unfolds, the union health ministry on Thursday released SOPs for offices, Hotels, Malls, Religious Places and Restaurants. All of the above will be allowed to open up as outlined by respective states outside the containment zones. In the containment zones all the above will remain closed.

The SOPs outlined various precautionary measures that needs to be adopted in addition to specific measures according to the nature of establishment

•  People above age 65 are asked to stay at home.
•  People having comorbidities.
• Pregnant women

The establishment has been recommended by government to ensure social distancing, disinfection of spaces, wearing of masks.

Offices:

•  Only asymptomatic people are allowed to come in.
•  Employers should stagger office hours and lunch breaks.
•  Buildings should preferably have separate entry and exit.
•  if there is a suspected case the office should isolate the person and inform medical facility or helpline. the authorities will assess risk and advise further.
•  If there are many contacts of a pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic case, then contacts in close proximity should be quarantined for 14 days while low-risk contacts can continue to go to work.
•  If there are two or fewer cases, only disinfect their area. If there is a larger outbreak, the whole building shall be closed for 48 hours of disinfection.

Hotels:

• Guests must provide travel history, medical condition, self-declaration form, and ID to check in
• Establishments must have contactless processes as an option for check-in and check-out
• Luggage must be disinfected before being sent to rooms
•  Establishments must isolate the person and inform the medical facility or helpline. The risk assessment from the authority will determine further actions.
•  If the person is positive, the establishment must disinfect the premises.

Shopping Malls:

• Gaming and children play area,cinema halls shall remain closed
• Mall management should deploy adequate manpower to ensure social distancing norms
• Staggering of visitors must be done.
• Number of customers should be kept at a minimum
• On escalators person on alternate steps is encouraged
• Establishments must isolate the person and inform the medical facility or helpline. The risk assessment from the authority will determine further actions.
• If the person is positive, the establishment must disinfect the premises.

Religious Places:

• Touching of statues, idols, and holy books is not allowed
• Shoes should be taken off in own vehicle
• Choirs or singing groups are not allowed; recorded devotional music should be played instead
• Public should bring their own mats
• No physical offerings, prasaad, or holy water allowed
• Avoid physical contact when greeting
• Establishments must isolate the person and inform the medical facility or helpline. The risk assessment from the authority will determine further actions.
• If the person is positive, the establishment must disinfect the premises.

Restaurants:

• Not more than 50% of seating capacity is to be permitted
• Takeaways instead of dine-in is encouraged
• Delivery persons should leave food packet at the door instead of handing the food packet to the customer
• Digital payments are encouraged
• Masks must be worn inside restaurants at all times
• Restaurants should stagger patrons if possible
• Disposable menus and paper napkins are advised, tables should be sanitised after every customer leaves
• Establishments must isolate the person and inform the medical facility or helpline. The risk assessment from the authority will determine further actions.
• If the person is positive, the establishment must disinfect the premises.

With these SOPs the government plans to unlock the economy further and creating a new normal for indians.