Centre issues new COVID guidelines for malls, restaurants, religious places; details here

GUWAHATI: The Centre has issued new guidelines to be followed at public places like malls, restaurants and religious places to arrest the spread of the COVID-19. The new guidelines have come into effect from March 1.

 

On March 4, the Centre issued additional guidelines, adding to the previous guidelines, including mandatory wearing of face masks and social distancing.

 

The central government in its order directed the shopping malls to have adequate manpower for ensuring social distance norms as they are at a higher risk of coming in contact with the virus.

 

The Centre has asked the malls to deploy adequate manpower to be deployed for ensuring social distance norms. Additionally, all employees with higher risks have been advised to take extra precautions. They should not be exposed to front-line work requiring direct contact with the public. Separate entry and exit for visitors, workers and goods\supplies to be ensured.

 

At the same time, the Centre has put emphasis on the implementation of the new set of guidelines in the restaurants, including takeaways to be encouraged instead of dine-in.

 

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The guidelines further added that food delivery should be done duly by following COVID19 precautions.

 

The restaurants should ensure proper thermal screening procedures are in place for home delivery staff, as they are at higher risks as well.

 

The maintenance of a physical distance of 6 feet while queuing up for entry and inside the restaurant has also been advised.

 

In religious places, the Centre said, hand hygiene and thermal screening procedure at entry must be mandatorily followed. The order said only asymptomatic people will be allowed to enter religious places. People without face masks will not be allowed.

 

6 states including Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka, continued to report a surge in new COVID19 cases on a daily basis. These states account for 85.51% of fresh cases, the health ministry said adding that a total of 17,407 new infections have been registered in a day.