Haryana Government has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Chandigarh, June 3– Haryana Government has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs in accordance to the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs regarding inter-state travel in buses of Haryana Roadways. The passengers intending to undertake inter-state travel must carry their identity proofs and tickets, in either electronic mode or physical form. Apart from this, the bus staff as well as passengers must have aarogya setu app downloaded in their mobile phones while they travel with all relevant details filled in.

Giving details in this regard an official spokesperson said that it must be ensured that the staff and passengers are free of any NCOVID symptoms. If any such person is aboard, he or she must immediately be de-boarded and sent home and the people in contact with him must be home quarantined for 14 days. He said that the number of passengers aboard one bus shall not exceed 30-35. The buses being employed for ferrying passengers should be fully sanitized inside out. In addition, sanitizer bottles must be kept inside the buses at all times and must be used by the bus staff from time to time at regular intervals. He said that the wearing of masks by everyone aboard the bus and on bus stands must be strictly adhered to by all and every passenger should carry sanitizers with them.

He said that the strict adherence of SOPs issued by the Transport Department for inter-state travel by the Haryana Roadways buses should be ensured. He said that the passengers shall ensure following NCOVID protocol and shall maintain physical distancing at bus stands and in the bus, not spit inside the bus or outside and at bus stands and other public places, cover their faces while sneezing and coughing.

He said that while passengers are boarding, their thermal screening must be ensured by the staff deployed there. No passenger should be allowed to board if he or she is running high temperature. The staff doing thermal screening must be wearing PPE kit while doing the screening and should sanitize themselves properly and adequately.

He said that for smooth movement of passengers, the interstate and intrastate routes being operated from time to time will be widely publicized through the departmental website and print media.

Chandigarh, June 3 – Haryana Government has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for ensuring social distancing in the market areas within the Municipal limits up to June 30, 2020.

Giving details in this regard an official spokesperson said that all permitted shops other than essential goods can open from 9 am to 7 pm to ensure the compliance of Night Curfew regarding movement of individuals between 9 pm to 5 am. Social distancing (2 gazkidoori) should be strictly maintained in all such market areas by all concerned i.e. shopkeepers as well as visitors or customers visiting these market areas. He said that the shopkeepers should wear gloves and masks to avoid hand contact and shall ensure frequent sanitization of all points which come into human contact for example, door, handles etc.

He said that that the shopkeepers shall ensure deployment of minimum required staff in their shops to avoid overcrowding and they can alternatively call the staff in shifts. The security guards at large entry points and AC shops should be provided with sanitizers and thermal scanner. He further added that the shopkeepers and salesmen shall invariably wear masks while attending the customers and shall ensure that no customer enter the shop without thermal scanning, sanitization and mask. It shall also be ensured that not more than 5 persons, including shopkeeper, helpers & customers are present at a time in any shop.

The spokesperson said that the customers or visitors should wear masks and be asked to stand in queue at a distance of minimum six feet. Proper marking of circles at the required distance should be done on regular basis so that customers or visitors shall wait for their turn.

He further said that temporary barriers with thermal scanning system should be provided at the entry and exit points of these market places so as to maintain the flow of customers or visitors for ensuring social distancing.

He specified that the municipal staff shall ensure proper cleanliness and sanitization of such market places or areas at regular intervals during day as well as night. In addition, challaning should be strictly enforced against spitting in open or market areas. Furthermore, shopkeepers or street vendors shall display a Public Notice regarding downloading of “AarogyaSetu Mobile App” for public or customer awareness and motivate them to install the same and regularly update their health status on this app. He added that the shopkeepers shall ensure that all the employees must install AarogyaSetu Mobile App and use the same regularly.

The spokesperson said that in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of any Municipal Corporation, if it is not possible to enforce the social distancing norms set out by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in congested markets, then Deputy Commissioner concerned in consultations with Commissioner, Municipal Corporation concerned shall take essential measures to notify the protocol for operating shops such as 50% opening of the markets, etc. He said that the principle of social distancing as well as standard of hygiene are to be followed in all the Municipal areas (Municipal Corporations/Councils/Committees) during the opening of markets.

He stated that the food restaurants and food aggregators like Zomato, Swiggy etc. are permitted to operate kitchens for home delivery of food items. The upper time limit for operation of kitchen will be 8.pm and home delivery, by all means, will be completed before 8.30 pm or earlier to ensure that no delivery boy will be out on roads beyond 9.pm. All standards of hygiene like wearing of masks, gloves, caps etc are being followed while cooking food in such kitchens. It shall be ensured that kitchen staff or delivery boys are not having any illness or symptoms of cold and cough etc. He said that the thermal scanning of the staff on a daily basis and regular medical checkup of all such staff be ensured by the owner. He further added that the delivery boys shall wear gloves and masks during home delivery. Also, no signature or thumb impression of the customer shall be taken by them while delivering items. Preferably online electronic mode of payment shall be ensured to avoid contact and to maintain social distancing. Besides, Municipalities should also endeavour to publicize these guidelines amongst the shopkeepers or rehriwalas or fruit & vegetable vendors etc. for their awareness about maintaining social distancing.

He said that the joint teams constituted by the Deputy Commissioner for enforcing the above instructions or directions should ensure extensive checking and challan the violators as per directions issued. Municipalities shall forward daily consolidated reports at e-mail suda.haryana@yahoo.co.in.

The spokesperson said that the directions regarding barber shops, sweet shops and banquet or marriage halls will remain in force as already circulated. In such markets where there is no restriction on opening of shops on daily basis, weekly off system as prevailing prior to lockdown shall be resorted. However, congested markets where there is restriction on daily opening of shops the condition of weekly off as included in instructions dated May 22, 2020 shall apply.

He said the directions of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India regarding lockdown guidelines May 30, 2020 should not be diluted in any manner, whatsoever, while complying with the SOPs. All municipalities shall ensure to arrange wide publicity by MUNADI on its own vehicles being used for door-to-door garbage collection having Public Address System (PAS) facility by hiring vehicles for this purpose today itself on priority basis. He added that these instructions in so far as they relate to opening of shops and its duration shall not apply on the shops dispensing essential goods.

The spokesperson further added that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has extended the lockdown period in the Containment Zone upto June 30, 2020 and to re-open prohibited activities in a phased manner (Unlock 1) in areas outside Containment Zones. Also, the restrictions imposed in containment zones including closure of shops etc as decided by District Administration shall continue to remain in force till further orders.