No lifts, no group lunches and other guidelines that offices, factories should follow

• On April 14, India announced that it will extend the lockdown by another 19 days.
  
• The lockdown will be lifted on May 3, 2020, as a measure to contain the community transmission of Coronavirus.
  
• Here is the list of guidelines and operating procedures for social distancing for offices, workplace and factories.

On April 14, India announced that it will extend the Coronavirus lockdown by another 19 days. During the same speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that some areas would see relaxations from April 20.

While cinema halls, shopping centres, theatres are closed and religious congregations are prohibited, there are many which have to operate. Like government offices, banks, NGOs have to remain open to help provide essential services. Even a few factories and select manufacturers are also allowed to operate in areas which have no Covid-19 transmission hotspots, as per the new relaxation guidelines.

Even after they are opened, they have to follow a set of strict guidelines and these relaxations can be revoked if they are not followed or if cases of transmission are reported.


Here is the list of guidelines and operating procedures for social distancing at offices, workplace and factories.

• The selected essential services employees have to wear homemade face masks at the workplace and in public places.
  
• All the establishments shall be disinfected completely — including the entrance gates of offices, cafeterias and canteens, meeting and conference halls, washroom and sinks and other surfaces.
  
• For all those people using transport facilities, special arrangements will be made and the employees will not use public transport. These vehicles will work with only 30%-40% capacity.
  
• All employees entering the workplace shall undergo thermal scanning at the entrance.
  
• Workers will now get mandatory medical insurance.
  
• Across all the entry and exit points, provisions of touch-free mechanism — handwash and sanitizers.
  
• All the workplaces will now have an hour gap between shifts and lunch breaks, to ensure social distancing.
  
• During meetings, all the employees shall sit at least 6 feet away from each other — and more than 10 people can not be a part of any gathering.
  
• The lifts will only allow 2-4 people, depending on the size. Use of the staircase should be encouraged, the guidelines said.
  
• The companies should impose a strict ban on tobacco, gutka etc and spitting is totally prohibited.

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