Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent address to the nation on Tuesday, announced that the COVID-19 lockdown is extended till May 3. He also said that the new guidelines for COVID-19 will be issued Tomorrow.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines for COVID-19 lockdown on Wednesday. Guidelines are formed while keeping in mind the interest of the poor. The guidelines are only for non-hotspot areas. The guidelines are applicable for areas which fall under the orange and the green zones for COVID-19.

In Annexure 1 of National Directives for COVID-19 Management given that National Directives for COVID 19 Management shall be enforced by the District Magistrate through fines and penal action prescribed in the Disaster Management Act 2005.

Guidelines for Public Places

  • To wear a mask is compulsory in all public places and workplaces.
  • As per the guidelines issued by MHA on social distancing, the in-charge of public places, workplaces and transport should ensure that social distancing followed strictly.
  • No organization or manager of the public place is allowed to gather more than 5 persons.
  • District Magistrate will regulate the social gatherings, marriages and funerals.
  • Spitting in public places is strictly prohibited. It will be punishable with a fine.
  • Strict ban on the sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco etc.

Guidelines for Workplaces

  • All the workplaces should be properly equipped with temperature screening systems and sanitizers at convenient places.
  • Workplaces should provide a gap of one hour between the shifts. And will stagger the lunch breaks of the staff, to ensure social distancing.
  • Work from home should be followed for the persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities and parents of children below the age of 5.
  • Use of Aarogya Setu App should be encouraged in government and private workplaces.
  • Frequent sanitization of the workplace should be done between the working shifts.
  • Large meetings must be discouraged.

Guidelines for Manufacturing Establishments

  • Frequent cleaning of common surfaces and hand wash should be mandated.
  • No common shifts and staggered lunch with social distancing in canteens should be ensured.
  • Intensive communications and training on good hygiene practice should be given.

In Annexure 2, the standard operating procedure for Social Distancing for Offices, Workplace, Factories and Establishments is explained.

  • All the areas in the premise should be disinfected properly, using user-friendly disinfectant mediums. The areas like entrance gate, cafeteria, canteen meeting room, conference halls. open areas, verandah, bunkers, portacabin building, equipment, lifts, washroom, toilet, sink, water points, walls and all the other common surfaces must be disinfected.
  • Workers coming from a far distance will be provided transportation facilities with 30-40 per cent passenger capacity. To use public transport is not allowed to workers.
  • All the vehicles and machinery entering the premise should be disinfected properly.
  • Thermal scanning to be done before entering and leaving the workplaces.
  • Medical insurance of every worker is mandatory.
  • Handwash and sanitisers should be available at all entry and exit points as well as in common areas. The items should be available in sufficient quantities.
  • Workplaces should provide a gap of one hour between the shifts. And will stagger the lunch breaks of the staff, to ensure social distancing.
  • Meeting of 10 or more to be discouraged. Seating should be at least 6 feet away from others in workplaces.
  • Not more than 2 or 4 persons are allowed to use lift.
  • Use the staircase rather than lifts.
  • Spitting in public places is strictly prohibited. It will be punishable with a fine.
  • A total ban on non-essential visitors.
  • List of nearby hospitals which are authorized to treat COVID-19 should be provided to the workers.