GOVT ISSUES SAFETY GUIDELINES AS MALLS, RESTAURANTS & PLACES OF WORSHIP SET TO OPEN ON JUNE 8: DETAILS

As India is learning to live with the deadly COVID-19, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHW), unveiled new safety guidelines for allowing shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and places of worship to open. 

These new guidelines will come into effect from Monday (June 8), that includes measures like staggering visitors to malls and no touching of idols at religious places. 

Below are few measures that needs to be followed everywhere:

- People above 65 years of age, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home.

- Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible.

- Use of face covers or masks to be made mandatory at all public places.

- Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty. 

- Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) can be made wherever feasible.

Check the new COVID-19 guidelines for shopping malls:

- Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.

- Only asymptomatic customers/visitors shall be allowed.

- All workers/customers/visitors to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks.

- The face cover/masks has to be worn at all times inside the shopping mall.

- Posters/standees/AV media on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently.

- Staggering of visitors to be done, if possible.

- Adequate manpower shall be deployed by Mall Management for ensuring social distancing norms.

- All employees who are at higher risk i.e. older employees, pregnant employees and employees who have underlying medical conditions, to take extra precautions. They should preferably not be exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact with the public. Shopping Mall management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible.

- Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises - duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured.

- Valet parking, if available, shall be operational with operating staff wearing face covers/ masks and gloves as appropriate. A proper disinfection of steering, door handles, keys, etc. of the vehicles should be taken up.

- Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms at all times.

- Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure social distancing in the premises.

- Preferably separate entry and exits for visitors, workers and goods/supplies shall be organized.

- The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the shopping mall authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.

- Required precautions while handling supplies, inventories and goods in the shopping mall shall be ensured. Proper queue management and disinfection shall be organized.

- Maintaining physical distancing of a minimum of 6 feet, when queuing up for entry and inside the shopping mall as far as feasible.

- Number of customers inside the shop to be kept at a minimum, so as to maintain the physical distancing norms.

- Seating arrangement, if any, to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.

- Number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining social distancing norms.

- Use of escalators with one person on alternate steps may be encouraged.

- For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed which inter alia emphasises that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30oC, relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70%, intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate.

- Large gatherings/congregations continue to remain prohibited.

- Deep cleaning of all washrooms shall be ensured at regular intervals.

New COVID-19 guidelines for restaurants:

- Takeaways to be encouraged, instead of Dine-In. Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at the customer's door. DO NOT handover the food packet directly to the customer.

- The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the restaurant authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.

- Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.

- Only asymptomatic staff and patrons shall be allowed.

- All staff and patrons to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks. The face cover/masks has to be worn at all times inside the restaurant.

- Posters/standees/AV media on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently.

- Staggering of patrons to be done, if possible.

- Adequate manpower shall be deployed by restaurant management for ensuring social distancing norms.

-All employees who are at higher risk i.e. older employees, pregnant employees and employees who have underlying medical conditions, to take extra precautions. They should preferably not be exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact with the public. Restaurant management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible.

- Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises - duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured.

- Valet parking, if available, shall be operational with operating staff wearing face covers/ masks and gloves as appropriate. A proper disinfection of steering, door handles, keys, etc. of the vehicles should be taken up.

- Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure social distancing in the premises.

- Seating arrangements to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.In restaurants, not more than 50% of seating capacity to be permitted.

- Disposable menus are advised to be used.

- For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed which inter alia emphasises that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30oC, relative humidity should be in the range of 4070%, intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate.

- Deep cleaning of all washrooms shall be ensured at regular intervals.

- Tables to be sanitized each time a customer leaves.- In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at workplace. Kitchens area must be sanitized at regular intervals.

New COVID-19 guidelines for religious places and places of worship:

- Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.

- Only asymptomatic persons shall be allowed in the premises.

- All persons to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks.

- Posters/standees on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently. Audio and Video clips to spread awareness on preventive measures for COVID-19 should be regularly played.

- Staggering of visitors to be done, if possible.

- Shoes / footwear to be preferably taken off inside their own vehicle. If needed they should be kept in separate slots for each individual / family by the persons themselves.

- Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises - duly following social distancing norms shall be organized.

- Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms at all times

- Specific markings may be made with sufficient distant to manage the queue and ensure social distancing in the premises.

- Preferably separate entry and exits for visitors shall be organized.

- Maintain physical distancing of a minimum of 6 feet at all times when queuing up for entry.

- Seating arrangement to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.

- Touching of statues/idols / holy books etc. not to be allowed.

- Large gatherings/congregation continue to remain prohibited.

- In view of potential threat of spread of infection, as far as feasible recorded devotional music/songs may be played and choir or singing groups should not be allowed.

- Avoid physical contact while greeting each other.

- Common prayer mats should be avoided and devotees should bring their own prayer mat or piece of cloth which they may take back with them.

- Effective sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with particular focus on lavatories, hand and foot-washing stations/areas/

- Proper disposal of face covers / masks / gloves left over by visitors and/or employees should be ensured.