Unlock 1.0: Official Guidelines For Opening Mall, Workplaces, Restaurants Issued By Govt

The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), on June 4, unveiled a new set of guidelines for the opening of shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, offices among others.

The advisory was issued after the Centre decided to unlock the country after almost 2-month long lockdown amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read to find out more about the guidelines for different places…

Generic Measures

The government has issued some generic measures that all staff, workers or patrons should follow at all times when visiting malls, restaurants or workplaces. 

1. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet as far as possible.
2. Use of face covers or masks is mandatory. 
3. Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty. 
4. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) can be made wherever feasible. 
5. Entrances to have mandatory hand hygiene (hand sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.
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 the used tissues properly. 
7. Only asymptomatic customers/visitors shall be allowed.
8. A person above the age of 65 years, persons with comorbidity, pregnant women and children below 10 years of age should stay at home.
9. Posters/standees/AV media on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently.
10. Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage and ensure social distancing in the premises.
11. Number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining social distancing norms.
12. 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 24-30 degrees Celsius, relative humidity should be in the range of 40.
13. Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest to state and district helpline. 
14. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
15. Installation & use of Aarogya Setu App shall be advised to all.
16. Proper disinfection of steering, door handles, keys, to be observed for hotels, malls, workplaces and restaurants. of the vehicles should be taken up.
17. Preferably separate entry and exits for patrons, staff and goods/supplies shall be organized. 
18. Required precautions while handling supplies, inventories and goods in the restaurant, hotels shall be ensured.

Restaurants

All restaurants have been asked to- 

1. Ensure that takeaways are encouraged instead of dine-In. 
2. Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at the customer’s door and not handover the food packet directly to the customer. 
3. The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the restaurant authorities prior to allowing home deliveries. 
4. Additional patrons to be seated in a designated waiting area with strict norms of social distancing.
5. Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage and ensure social distancing in the premises.
6. Only asymptomatic staff and patrons shall be allowed. 
7. All staff and patrons to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks. 
8. The face cover or masks have to be worn at all times inside the restaurant.
9. Not more than 50% of the seating capacity shall be permitted. 
10. Disposable menus are advised to be used.
11. All restaurants should use disposable paper napkins, instead of cloth napkins.
12. Buffet service should also follow social distancing norms.
13. 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.
14. Restaurant management will facilitate work from home wherever feasible. 
15. Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises – duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured, as per the statement issued by the health ministry. 
16. Valet parking, if available, shall be operational with operating staff wearing face covers or masks and gloves as appropriate.

Hotels

1. Details of the guest (travel history, medical condition etc.)along with ID and self declaration form must be provided by the guest at the reception. 
2. Rooms and other service areas shall be sanitized each time a guest leaves.
3. In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at the workplace. Kitchens area must be sanitized at regular intervals.
4. Deep cleaning of all washrooms shall be ensured at regular intervals.
5. Proper disposal of face covers / masks / gloves left over by the guests and/or staff should be ensured.

Office/WorkPlace

1. There should be provision for disinfecting the interior of the vehicle using 1% sodium hypochlorite solution/spray.
2. People residing in the containment zone should work from home and it will not be counted as a leave period till the denotification of the containment zone.
3. Routine issuing of visitors/temporary passes should be suspended and visitors with proper permission of the officer who they want to meet should be allowed after being properly screened.
4. Meetings, as far as possible, should be done through video conferencing.
5. Staggering of office hours, lunch hours/coffee breaks to be done, as far as possible.
6. The seating arrangement should be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.
7. The number of people in the elevator will be restricted.

Shopping Malls

1. The face cover/mask has to be worn at all times inside the shopping mall.
2. Staggering of visitors to be done, if possible.
3. Adequate manpower shall be deployed by Mall Management for ensuring social distancing norms.
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.
5. The management will facilitate work from home wherever feasible. 
6. Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises – duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured, as per the statement issued by the health ministry. 
7. Valet parking, if available, shall be operational with operating staff wearing face covers or masks and gloves as appropriate.
8. Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within the premises hall follow social distancing norms at all times.
9. The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the shopping mall authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.
10. The number of customers inside the shop to be kept at a minimum, so as to maintain physical distancing norms.
11. Seating arrangement, if any, to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.
12. Use of escalators with one person on alternate steps may be encouraged.
13. Cleaning and regular disinfection (using 1% sodium hypochlorite) of frequently touched surfaces (doorknobs, elevator buttons, handrails, benches, washroom fixtures, etc.) to be made mandatory in all malls in common areas as well as inside shops, elevators, escalators etc.
14. Proper disposal of face covers/masks/gloves leftover by visitors and/or employees should be ensured.
15. Deep cleaning of all washrooms shall be ensured at regular intervals.
16. Children Play Areas shall remain closed.
17. Cinema halls inside shopping malls shall remain closed. 
18. Gaming arcades should remain closed.

Food Court

1. Adequate crowd and queue management to be ensured to ensure social distancing norms.
2. Not more than 50% of the seating capacity shall be permitted. 
3. Food court staff/waiters should wear masks and hand gloves and take other required precautionary measures.
4. The seating arrangement should ensure adequate social distancing between patrons as far as feasible.
5. Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment (using e-wallets) to be encouraged.
6. Tables to be sanitized each time the customer leaves.
7. In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at the workplace.

What To Do If a Suspect Or A Confirmed Case Is Found On The Premises

1. Place the ill person in a room or area where they are isolated from others.
2. Provide a mask/face cover till such time he/she is examined by a doctor.
3. Immediately inform the nearest medical facility (hospital/clinic) or call the state or district helpline.
4. A risk assessment will be undertaken by the designated public health authority (district RRT/treating physician) and accordingly further action be initiated regarding the management of the case, his/her contacts and need for disinfection.
5. Disinfection of the premises to be taken up if the person is found positive.