Going to Hotels, Restaurants, Malls and Religious places? Know New Rules to be followed as per Govt

While the nation is bracing itself to get out of the lockdown and start day to day operations, one must not forget the base issue and that is the COVID 19 pandemic. Even though the government is in their unlocking phase, social distancing and human safety is still of the utmost importance.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 4th June, 2020 has come up with SOP on preventive measures in restaurants, malls, religious places and hospitality units to contain spread of COVID-19. The primary intention is to provide generic and suitable precautionary measures to restrict any further transmission of the virus while providing services.

Know Specific Common rules an individual need to follow when he is venturing out of home and specific rules for Hotels, Restaurants, Malls and Religious places

Specific Preventive Measures that the hotels, restaurants, malls and religious, should ensure:-

1. Restaurants, hotels, religious places and malls in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
2. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible
3. Use of face covers/masks is mandatory.
4. Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds).
5. Respiratory etiquettes such as strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly to be strictly followed.
6. Spitting is strictly prohibited
7. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions
8. Only asymptomatic persons to be allowed in the premises
9. Adequate manpower to be deployed at hotels, restaurants and malls for ensuring social distancing norms
10. Proper crowd management inside the premises as well as outside the premises like parking lots–duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured. Large gatherings/congregations are prohibited.
11. Valet parking, if available at hotels, restaurants and malls to be operational with operating staff wearing face covers/ masks and gloves as appropriate. A proper disinfection of steering, door handles, keys, etc. of the vehicles should be taken up.
12. Preferably separate entry and exits shall be organised
13. Posters/standees on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently.
14. Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure social distancing in the premises.
15. Required precautions while handling supplies, inventories and goods in the restaurants, hotels and malls to be ensured. Proper queue management and disinfection to be organized.
16. Staggering of visitors and patrons to be done, if possible
17. In case of a suspect or confirmed case in the premises:

i. Place the ill person in a room or area where they are isolated from others.

ii. Provide a mask/face cover till such time he/she is examined by a doctor.

iii. Immediately inform the nearest medical facility (hospital/clinic) or call the state or district helpline.

iv. A risk assessment will be undertaken by the designated public health authority (district RRT/treating physician) and accordingly further action be initiated regarding management of case, his/her contacts and need for disinfection.

v. Disinfection of the premises to be taken up if the person is found positive.

18. For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD to be followed, which emphasises that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30 degree C, relative humidity should be in the range of 40- 70% and intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate

19. Deep cleaning of all washrooms shall be ensured at regular intervals.

20. Proper disposal of face covers/masks/gloves left over by patrons, staff, guests, visitors or employees should be ensured.

21. Cleaning and regular disinfection (using 1% sodium hypochlorite) of frequently touched surfaces (door knobs, elevator buttons, hand rails, benches, washroom fixtures, etc.) to be made mandatory in all guest/visitor service area and common areas of malls, hotels and restaurants.

22. Use of escalators with one person on alternate steps may be encouraged.

23. Number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining social distancing norms

24. Seating arrangement to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.

25. Staff/waiters at malls, hotels and restaurants to wear mask and hand gloves and take other required precautionary measures.

All Hotels shall ensure the following arrangements:

1. 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. Hotel management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible.
2. 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.
3. Hand sanitizers must be kept at the reception for guests to use. Guests to sanitize hands before and after filling relevant forms including A&D register.
4. Hotels must adopt contactless processes like QR code, online forms, digital payments like e-wallet etc. for both check-in and check-out.
5. Luggage should be disinfected before sending the luggage to rooms.
6. Guests who are at higher risk i.e. those who are older, pregnant or those who have underlying medical conditions are advised to take extra precautions
7. Guests should be advised not to visit areas falling with in containment zone
8. Appropriate personal protection gears like face covers/masks, gloves and hand sanitizers etc. shall be made available by hotel to the staff as well as the guests.
9. Detailed guidelines issued for restaurants shall be followed.

i. Seating arrangement in the restaurant also to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained

ii. Disposable menus are advised to be used.

iii. Instead of cloth napkins, use of good quality disposable paper napkins to be encouraged.

iv. Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment (using e-wallets) to be encouraged.

v. Buffet service should also follow social distancing norms among guests.

10. Room service or takeaways to be encouraged, instead of dine-in. Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at guest or customer’s door and not handed directly to the receiver. The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the hotel authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.

11. For room service, communication between guests and in-house staff should be through intercom/ mobile phone and room service (if any) should be provided while maintaining adequate social distance.

12. Gaming Arcades/Children play areas (wherever applicable) shall remain closed. Effective and frequent sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with particular focus on lavatories, drinking and hand washing stations/areas.

13. Rooms and other service areas to be sanitized each time a guest leaves.

14. In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at work place. Kitchens area must be sanitized at regular intervals.

All Shopping Malls shall ensure the following arrangements:

1. 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. Shopping Mall management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible.
2. Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms at all times.
3. The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the shopping mall authorities prior to allowing home deliveries
4. Number of customers inside the shop to be kept at a minimum, so as to maintain the physical distancing norms.
5. Effective and frequent sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with particular focus on lavatories, drinking and hand washing stations/areas.
6. Gaming Arcades, Children Play Areas and. Cinema halls inside shopping malls shall remain closed
7. In the food-courts & restaurants

i. Adequate crowd and queue management to be ensured to ensure social distancing norms.

ii. Not more than 50% of seating capacity to be permitted.

iii. Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment (using e-wallets) to be encouraged

iv. Tables to be sanitized each time customer leaves.

v. In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at work place

All Restaurants shall ensure the following arrangements:

1. Takeaways to be encouraged, instead of Dine-In. Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at customer’s door. DO NOT handover the food packet directly to the customer
2. The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the restaurant authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.
3. All employees who are at higher risk (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. Restaurant management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible
4. Additional patrons to be seated in a designated waiting area with norms of social distancing.
5. In restaurants, not more than 50% of seating capacity to be permitted.
6. Disposable menus are advised to be used
7. Instead of cloth napkins, use of good quality disposable paper napkins to be encouraged.
8. Buffet service should also follow social distancing norms among patrons.
9. Effective and frequent sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with particular focus on lavatories, drinking and hand washing stations/areas.
10. Adequate crowd and queue management to be ensured to ensure social distancing norms.
11. Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment (using e-wallets) to be encouraged.
12. Tables to be sanitized each time customer leaves.
13. In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at work place. Kitchens area must be sanitized at regular intervals.
14. Gaming Arcades/Children play areas (wherever applicable) shall remain closed.

All Religious places shall ensure the following arrangements:

1. Shoes / footwear to be preferably taken off inside own vehicle. If needed they should be kept in separate slots for each individual / family by the persons themselves.
2. Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms at all times
3. People should wash their hand and feet with soap and water before entering the premises.
4. Touching of statues/idols / holy books etc. not to be allowed.
5. In view of potential threat of spread of infection, as far as feasible recorded devotional music/songs may be played and choir or singing groups should not be allowed.
6. Avoid physical contact while greeting each other.
7. Common prayer mats should be avoided and devotees should bring their own prayer mat or piece of cloth which they may take back with them.
8. No physical offerings like Prasad/distribution or sprinkling of holy water, etc.to be allowed inside the religious place.
9. Community kitchens/langars / “Ann-daan”, etc. at religious places should follow physical distancing norms while preparing and distributing food.
10. Effective sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with particular focus on lavatories, hand and foot-washing stations/areas
11. Frequent cleaning and disinfection to be maintained by the management of the religious place.
12. The floors should particularly be cleaned multiple times in the premises.

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