Under the new guidelines issued, the use of a mask at all times has been mandated along with maintaining social distancing at all times and practicing regular sanitary practices to ensure health and hygiene and curtail the spread of virus.

The Central government ministries and departments have issued new guidelines for their workforce and staff at offices so as to curb the number of cases that have recently been on the rise. The circular issued warranted that “Many administrators in several central government ministries/divisions have been confirmed COVID-19 positive. Some of the staff have even lost their lives to this pandemic. Consequently, it is the responsibility of each officer to safeguard themselves and each other and help thwart the spread of the infection."

These are the pointers that were mandated with the release of the official circular:

• There shall not be more than 20 people present at the office at a time out of which only the asymptomatic employees shall be permitted to enter the premises. Any staff member with an ailing like cold/cough/fever shall stay at home. 
• Officials and staff members who resides in containment zones shall not report to the office and continue working from home until their zone is denotified or de-listed. Rosters shall be revised in accordance to this.
• Social distancing norms have to be upheld as the undersecretaries/deputy secretaries who are sharing cabins will alternate their days to work at the office. This also warrants that no section shall have more than two employees present there at a time. 
• Staggering office hours so as to regulate the amount of staff reporting to duty will be maintained along with the provision pf keeping windows open for proper ventilation in the halls. 
• Face shields and masks shall be worn at all times, failing to which disciplinary action will be taken against the one who doesn’t follow the guidelines. The norms of waste disposal shall also be followed and adhered to by looping in the housekeeping staff. 
• All the hazardous and biomedical waste such as masks and gloves have to discarded in yellow bins allocated in the premises so as to not litter and increase the chances of infection. 
• Every staff member should follow personal health and hygiene practices. The use of sanitizers has been mandated after every half an hour the dispensers for which would be installed in strategic locations. 
• Virtual meetings and conferences shall only be attended by the concerned officials from their respective rooms. Board-room meetings and face-to-face interaction shall be avoided as much as possible. Interactions are to be encouraged only through phones, intercom, or VC.
• Frequently touched planes such as the electric switches, doorknobs, elevator buttons, handrails, washroom fixtures, etc., shall be eviscerated after every hour with 1% sodium hypochlorite. Officers/staff are also advised to clean their personal equipment like keyboards, mouse, phones, AC remotes, etc., themselves by using cleaning disinfectants. 
• A strict one-meter distance has been suggested to be maintained at all times and the seating for the visitors have to been regulated according to this rule. 

These rules and guidelines will help ensure the safety of every person who visits or works in the offices of the central government departments and keep the infection rates and figures down until we find a cure for the novel coronavirus.