For the next few months, there has to be no group lunch, entry to the offices through multiple gates, no loitering through the corridors of Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Rail Bhawan, Sena Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, etc, and above all no use of central air conditioning system for the Central Government staffers. These guidelines of Union Government will come into force when the lockdown imposed due to Covid-19 is diluted or lifted and the Government departments work in full strength.

The Centre on Thursday issued a new set of guidelines which says centralised ACs may not be used for time being, if possible. While it has suggested that employees should take entry into the building through different gates in a staggered manner, it has also advised people to take stairs, or if using lifts, then physical distance of six feet has to be ensured. The rules also say that only four people can occupy lift for one travel and that the occupants should face the wall of the lift and avoid talking.

While wearing of mask, use of soap and sanitisers at every interval is a must, the new office memorandum notified by the Health Ministry also says that the movement of “physical” receipts and files should be discouraged so as to avoid the infection through frequent touching of papers. As much as possible, employees should avoid using other employees’ phones, office paraphernalia like desks and tools and equipment.

The guidelines ask the employees to avoid group lunches. It says that the lunch timing may be staggered as much as possible and has prohibited loitering and crowding in the corridors of the office premises.