PANJIM: The State government has issued an advisory appealed to private organisations to allow their employees to work from home and to avoid all meetings till further notice.
The Directorate of Health Services has issued an advisory based on the advisory of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
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“Encourage private sector organisations/employers to allow employees to work from home wherever feasible. Meetings, as far as feasible, will be done through video conferences. Minimise or reschedule meetings involving large number of people unless necessary,” the advisory issued by Health Ministry said.
Social distancing is a non-pharmaceutical infection prevention and control intervention implemented to avoid/decrease contact between those who are infected with a disease causing pathogen and those who are not, so as to stop or slow down the rate and extent of disease transmission in a community.
This, the ministry says, eventually leads to decrease in spread, morbidity and mortality due to the disease.
“Ongoing exams can be conducted only after ensuring physical distance of one metre amongst students; restaurants to ensure hand washing protocol and proper cleanliness of frequently touched surfaces. Ensure physical distancing (minimum one metre) between tables and encourage open-air seating wherever practical with adequate distancing,” the advisory said.
The government has also asked local authorities to have a dialogue with opinion leaders as well as religious leaders to regulate mass gathering and to ensure no overcrowding and that a distance of at least one metre is kept between people.
“Local authorities are to have meetings with trades associations and other stakeholders to regulate hours, exhibit Do’s and Don’ts and take up a communication drives in market places like ‘sabzi mandi, ‘anaj mandi’, bus depots, railway stations, post-offices etc, where essential services are provided. All commercial activities must keep a distance of one metre between customers,” it said.
Further, it said, hospitals must follow necessary protocol related with Covid-19 management as prescribed and restrict family/friends/children visiting patients in hospitals.
“Hygiene and physical distancing has to be maintained. Shaking hands and hugging as a matter of greeting to be avoided. Special protective measures for delivery men/women; while working in online ordering services to be avoided. Keep communities informed consistently and constantly,” it said.
