Mask must during office time, violation to invite action: Govt
Bhubaneswar: The state government has made it mandatory for its employees to wear mask during the entire period of their office stay and said wilful deviation will be construed as indiscipline and action will taken accordingly. The order, issued by Sanjeev Chopra, secretary of the general administration (GA) department, also stressed the need on maintaining a distance of at least two metres between persons while discussing, standing or waiting inside the office premises.
While the order mentioned employees should be encouraged to use staircases as much as possible, it added that more than four persons should not be allowed inside the lift at any point of time. Those inside the lift should stand facing the walls and not each other, the order stated. “As the state government offices have started operating with full strength, all departments and offices have been asked to ensure strict observance of the preventive measures in view of increase in number of Covid-19 cases in the state,” a senior official said. The order stated that official meetings and gatherings should be restricted to a minimum and organized preferably through video-conference, while instructions have also been issued to prohibit unnecessary gathering, crowding in common passages and corridors.
“In case a physical meeting is necessary, seating may be arranged with appropriate physical distance among the participants, keeping in view the size of the meeting hall,” read the order.
Frequently touched surfaces like door knobs, elevator buttons, hand rails, benches and washroom fixtures have to be cleaned and disinfected regularly using one per cent sodium hypochlorite, the order stated. Emphasis has also been placed on disinfection of the interior of vehicles and areas like steering wheel, door handles and keys. Drivers, employees engaged with watch and ward and security personnel should be alerted about social distancing norms, it added.
Visitors from outside will be restricted to the bare minimum while they should be disposed of within a limited period of time following sanitation norms. Also, receipt and delivery of letters will be restricted to the entry point of the office only, the order stated.
Government officials feeling physical discomfort and suffering can seek proper medical care while those having symptoms of fever/respiratory problem can seek leave. Similarly, instructions have been issued to ensure that older employees and those having underlying medical conditions and pregnant women employees should not be exposed to direct public contact. “Any officer and staff residing in a containment zone should inform the same to the supervisory officer and not attend office till containment zone is de-notified. Such staff should be permitted to work from home and it will not be counted as leave,” Chopra said.