Central Health Ministry Issues SOPs To Contain Spread Of COVID-19 In Religious Places, Shopping Malls, Offices Etc

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has issued Standard Operating Procedure on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 in Hotels, Hospitality Units, Shopping malls, Restaurants, religious places/ places of worship and offices.

It was notified that Hotels, Hospitality Units, Shopping malls, Restaurants, religious places/ places of worship and offices in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.

Whereas, the Generic preventive measures includes;-

1. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes. Hotel management to advise accordingly.
2. The generic measures include simple public health measures that are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures need to be observed by all (staff and guests) in these places at all times. These include: –
3. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible.
4. Use of face covers/masks to be made mandatory.
5. 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.
6. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly.
7. Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest to state and district helpline.
8. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
9. Installation and use of AarogyaSetu app shall be advised to all.

Preventive measures in Religious Places, Offices, Shopping Malls, Restaurant, Hotels and Other Hospitality Units to contain spread of COVID-19: –

All religious places shall ensure;

1. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.
2. Only asymptomatic persons shall be allowed in the premises.
3. All persons to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks.
4. 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.
5. Staggering of visitors to be done, if possible.
6. Shoes / footwear to be preferably taken off inside own vehicle. If needed they should be kept in separate slots for each individual / family by the persons themselves.
7. 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.
8. No physical offerings like Prasad/distribution or sprinkling of holy water, etc.to be allowed inside the religious place.
9. Community kitchens/ langars / “Ann-daan”, etc. at religious places should follow physical distancing norms while preparing and distributing food.

All Hotels shall ensure the following arrangements mentioned below;

1. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.
2. Only asymptomatic staff and guests shall be allowed.
3. All staff and guests to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks. The face cover/masks have to be worn at all times inside the hotel.
4. 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. Hotel management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible.
5. Proper crowd management in the hotel as well as in outside premises like parking lots–duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured. Large gatherings/congregations continue to remain prohibited.
6. Preferably separate entry and exits for guests, staff and goods/supplies shall be organized. Maintaining physical distancing of a minimum of 6 feet, when queuing up for entry and inside the hotel as far as feasible. Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure social distancing in the premises.

For Shopping malls;

1. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.
2. Only asymptomatic customers/visitors shall be allowed.
3. All workers/customers/visitors to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks. The face cover/masks have to be worn at all times inside the shopping mall.
4. Posters/standees/AV media on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently.
5. Staggering of visitors to be done, if possible.
6. Gaming Arcades shall remain closed.
7. Children Play Areas shall remain closed.
8. Cinema halls inside shopping malls shall remain closed.

For Restaurants;

1. Takeaways to be encouraged, instead of Dine-In. Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at customer’s door. DO NOT handover the food packet directly to the customer.
2. The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the restaurant authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.
3. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.
4. Only asymptomatic staff and patrons shall be allowed.
5. All staff and patrons to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks. The face cover/masks have to be worn at all times inside the restaurant.
6. Deep cleaning of all washrooms shall be ensured at regular intervals.
7. Adequate crowd and queue management to be ensured to ensure social distancing norms. xxx. Staff / waiters should wear mask and hand gloves and take other required precautionary measures.
8. Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment (using e-wallets) to be encouraged.
9. Tables to be sanitized each time customer leaves.
10. In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at work place. Kitchens area must be sanitized at regular intervals.

Specific preventive measures for offices;

1. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.
2. Only asymptomatic staff/visitors shall be allowed.
3. Any officer and staff residing in containment zone should inform the same to supervisory officer and not attend the office till containment zone is denotified. Such staff should be permitted to work from home and it will not be counted as leave period.
4. Drivers shall maintain social distancing and shall follow required dos and don’ts related to COVID-19. It shall be ensured by the service providers/ officers/ staff that drivers residing in containment zones shall not be allowed to drive vehicles.
5. There shall be provision for disinfection of the interior of the vehicle using 1% sodium hypochlorite solution/ spray. A proper disinfection of steering, door handles, keys, etc. should be taken up.

Read the SOPs here;