Unlock 1 Begins: Guidelines to be Followed by Offices and Workplaces to Protect Employees

Phase one of Unlock 1 has come into place from 8 June 2020. This phase will witness opening up of almost all economic activities, except for that in containment or restricted zones. Nevertheless, there are certain standard operating procedures (SOPs) that need to be followed in offices and workplaces to contain the spread of COVID-19, and protect employees from getting infected. SOPs to Contain Spread of COVID-19 in Offices and Workplaces in Unlock 1

• Office entrances must mandatorily have sanitizer dispenser and thermal screening and only asymptomatic visitors and staff will be allowed.
• Employees residing in containment zones should be allowed to work-from-home.
• Vehicles that ferry employees must be disinfected, and drivers from containment zones should not be allowed to operate vehicles.
• Employees in the high risk categories such as pregnant women and older employees with co-morbid conditions must be allowed to work-from-home.
• Face masks should be worn at all times in office premises and visitors must be allowed only after receiving proper permissions.
• Meetings and gatherings must be held over video conferencing.
• Posters, AV media and standees on preventive measures should be displayed in prominent places.
• Separate entry and exit must be organized.
• Proper cleaning and disinfection of most-touched surfaces in workplaces must be followed.
• The number of people in elevators must be restricted.

SOPs to Handle Positive COVID-19 Cases in Offices and Workplaces in Unlock 1

• If a person is found positive for COVID-19 then they must be kept isolated from others, and the nearest medical facility must be informed.
• The suspect reporting very mild symptoms could be placed under home quarantine.
• The necessary action for contact tracing and disinfection of workplaces must be undertaken.
• If one or two cases are found positive then only the areas where the infected employee visited 48 hours ago will need to be disinfected. However, if there is a large outbreak then the office complex will have to be sealed, and thorough disinfection has to be followed.