SOPs issued for hotels, offices, religious places & restaurants

Four days before states open religious places, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels etc, Union health ministry issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in this regard.

It also added that the religious places in containment zones shall remain closed, the ministry has advised person above 65 years of age, with co-morbidities, pregnant woman and children below the age of 10 years to stay away from such places. The ministry has said social distancing, facemasks and hand hygiene etc has to be followed strictly and visitors entry should be staggered. Touching of statues/idols / holy books etc. is not allowed. No physical offerings like Prasad or a sprinkling of holy water, etc. to be allowed .

For offices, malls etc, the SOP saying the number of people in the elevators should be restricted, duly maintaining social distancing norms and use of escalators with one person on alternate steps may be encouraged. Gaming arcades, children play areas and cinema halls inside shopping malls shall remain closed.

In restaurants, seating arrangement has to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained and not more than 50% of seating capacity to be permitted.

In hotels, hand sanitisers must be kept at the reception for guests to use and hotels must adopt contactless processes like QR code, online forms, digital payments like e-wallet etc. for both check-in and check-out. In offices there should be sufficient distancing between workers and proper cleaning and disinfection of the surface has to be done.