- In order to contain the spread of Covid in office settings, the Union Health Ministry has issued fresh guidelines for workplace
- In case a larger number of coronavirus cases are being reported at the workplace, the whole block or building should be disinfected
As India’s coronavirus cases are declining consistently, the Union Ministry of Health has issued fresh guidelines for workplaces. The offices can now resume work after proper disinfection, in case Covid-19 cases are reported, without closing or sealing the premises, according to union health ministry’s fresh guidelines.
In order to contain the spread of Covid in office settings, the Union Health Ministry’s fresh guidelines for workplace mentions:
1) If there are one or two Covid-19 cases reported at a workplace, the disinfection procedure will be limited to places/areas occupied and visited by the patient in past 48 hours and work can be resumed after disinfection as per laid down protocol.
2) In case a larger number of coronavirus cases are being reported at the workplace, the whole block or building, as the case may be, should be disinfected.
3) As offices and other workplaces are relatively close settings, with shared spaces like workstations, corridors, elevators and stairs, parking places, cafeteria/canteens, meeting rooms and conference halls, it is most likely that COVID-19 infection can spread relatively fast among officials, staffs and visitors, it said. Hence, there is a need to prevent the spread of infection and to respond in a timely and effective manner in case suspect case of COVID-19 is detected in these settings, so as to limit the spread of infection, it added.
4) The guidelines’ highlighted that office in containment zones shall remain closed except for medical and essential services.
5) Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
6) As per the guidelines mandatory hand hygiene and thermal screening should be ensured at the entrance and only asymptomatic staff and visitors should be allowed entry.
7) The ministry further said that these measures need to be observed by all employees and visitors at all times.
8) These include maintaining a minimum distance of 6 feet in common places, use of face covers or masks at all times and practising frequent hand washing.
9 ) Meetings, as far as feasible should be done through video conferencing, it added.
10) In case any covid case is reported despite taking the appropriate action, the management has to place the ill person in a room or area where they are isolated from others at the workplace, the guidelines mentioned.
Meanwhile, all central government employees have been asked to attend office on working days, according to a Personnel Ministry order. The Centre had in May asked 50 per centPic of its employees below the level of Deputy Secretary to work from their offices, while implementing different time slots in its effort to further check the spread of the coronavirus.
According to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday, the COVID-19 active caseload remains below 1.5 lakh.
