Nagaland government issues new guidelines as all economic activities resume

Dimapur, Sep. 1 (EMN): After imposing restrictions on various activities for months to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state, the government of Nagaland has allowed the opening of shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, gymnasiums, yoga Institutes, barber shops, salons, and beauty parlours outside the containment zones from today, September 1, but subject to strict compliance with the standard operating procedure (SOP).

Here are modified SOP issued by Chief Secretary Temjen Toy for various business sectors:

SOP for shopping malls

Social distancing and other preventive measures should be followed in shopping malls but those in containment zones will remain closed.

• Persons above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes.
• Both employees and visitors should keep physical distancing of at least six feet, mandatorily use face masks and wash hands frequently or use hand sanitisers. Spitting should be strictly prohibited.
• All malls should provide sanitiser dispenser and thermal screening, and posters/standees/AV media on preventive measures about Covid-19 displayed prominently.
• Adequate manpower for ensuring social distancing norms.
• Employees with higher risk should take extra precautions and facilitate work from home wherever feasible.
• Proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises; valet parking, if available, shall be operational with operating staff wearing face mask and gloves; disinfect steering, door handles, keys, etc. of the vehicles.
• Shops, stalls, cafeteria etc. outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms with use of markings.
•  Preferably separate entry and exits; allow minimum customers; one person per escalator; restrict number of people on elevators; not more than 50% seating capacity in food courts; and staff for home deliveries to be screened thermally.
• For air-conditioning/ventilation, temperature should be set between 24-30oC and relative humidity in the range of 40-T0o/o.
• No large gatherings of people; proper disposal of protective gear; frequent sanitation of premises, washrooms, door knobs, elevator buttons, hand rails, benches etc.; 
• Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment to be encouraged; sanitise tables each time customer leaves.
• Gaming arcades, children play areas, and cinema halls inside shopping malls to remain closed.
• In case of a suspect, keep the person in an isolated place and provide face mask till a doctor examines; inform nearest medical facility or call the state or district helpline; and disinfect the premises if the is found positive.
• Any violation of the SOP issued will attract action as per legal provisions against the management of the mall/premises or the customer/visitor as the case may be

SOP for restaurants

Only restaurants outside containment zones will be allowed to open. Besides following preventive measures issued for shopping malls, restaurants have been encouraged to use good quality disposable paper napkins instead of cloth napkins; buffet service should also follow social distancing norms among patrons; and staff/waiters should wear mask and hand gloves and take other required precautionary measures.

SOP for hotels, hospitality units

All hotels and other hospitality units must take suitable measures to restrict transmission of Covid-19 while providing accommodation and other tourist services. Hotels in containment zones shall remain closed and those allowed to be opened should follow almost all the preventive measures laid for shopping malls and restaurants.

Hotels are required to get details of the guest travel history, medical condition etc. along with ID and self-declaration form at the reception. Luggage should be disinfected before sending it to the rooms and guests should be advised not to visit areas falling within containment zones.

Appropriate personal protection gear like face masks, gloves and hand sanitisers etc. should be made available by hotel to the staff as well as the guests. Room service or takeaways should to be encouraged, instead of dine-in, and food delivery personnel should leave the packet at guest or customer’s door and not handed directly.

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

SOP for yoga institutes, gymnasiums

All yoga institutes and gymnasiums in containment zones will be allowed to open

Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.

• Besides generic preventive measures that are supposed to be followed by all business establishments, only a visor may be used as far as possible during yoga exercise or exercising in gymnasiums.
• For opening yoga and gymnasiums, floor area should be based on 4m2 per person; place equipment, including cardio and strength machines, 6 feet apart wherever feasible, by moving equipment to facilitate social distancing; where available, utilise any outdoor space by relocating equipment outside.
• Create specific pathways for entering and exiting exercise areas within closed spaces using floor or wall markings. Restrict the number of members in specified areas; implement ‘fitness sessions’ for particular exercise areas with requirements for members to register (ideally online) for specific sessions; lockers will remain in use, as long as social distancing is maintained; and ensure that dustbins and trash cans are covered at all times.
• However, spas, sauna, steam bath and swimming Pool (wherever applicable) shall remain closed.
• Planning and scheduling of activities: Calculate the maximum capacity per session based on redesigned spaces. The practice of Yogic Kriya(s) may be avoided for the time being. Even if it is to be practiced essentially, it may be done in open spaces. Guidelines for practitioners are available on Ayush website.
• Staggering class session times and allowing minimum of 15-30 minutes between classes to avoid overlap between members arriving and leaving; offer group fitness classes online wherever possible; restrict the number of persons based on the size of the room and the nature of the fitness activity.
• Personal training in yoga institutes/gymnasiums: Ensure 6 feet distance between personal trainer and clients; sessions are tailored to include only exercises that do not require physical contact between the trainer and the clients including setup and use of equipment; limit number of clients per session and ensure adequate spacing amongst all clients; and utilise outdoor spaces at the yoga institutes/gymnasiums where available.
• All preventive measures, as in other establishments, should be followed once yoga institutes/gymnasiums are opened. In yoga institutes, shoes and footwear are to be preferably taken off outside the premises where yoga exercises are done. If needed they should be kept in separate slots for each individual / family by the persons themselves.
• prior to exercising in gymnasiums, ensure that the equipment is disinfected, particularly the frequently touched surfaces before each use; remove mask and wear visor as far as feasible while exercising; hand sanitiser stations must be provided near each gymnasium equipment; and ensure that members sanitise their hands before using gymnasium equipment.
• Common exercise mats should be avoided during yoga exercise and members should preferably bring their own exercise mats which they may take back with them.
• In view of potential threat of spread of infection, as far as feasible recorded music/songs may be played and shouting/ laughter yoga exercise should not be allowed.
• Stop the exercise if you feel difficulty in breathing. Check oxygen saturation level. Those having oxygen saturation below 95% should not be allowed to continue exercise and refer such persons to the nearest healthcare facility.
• Dispose of protective gears properly; disinfect gymnasium equipment and other frequently touched surfaces.

SOP for barber shops, salons, beauty parlours

• Only select services such as haircut, dyeing hair, threading, waxing, etc. are allowed. Skin-related services are not permitted.
•  Entry shall be allowed with prior appointments only. The client should be staggered in such way that enough time is available for sanitisation of chair, equipment etc.
•  The seating arrangement in service area and waiting space shall be arranged in such way that minimum space of at least one metre remains between two seats. In small booth type of setting this can be ensured by allowing 1-2 clients only at a time.
• Service providers are advised to avoid prolonged procedures as far as applicable.
• Hand washing facility either with water and soap or hand sanitisers should be available at entry for clients / staff.
•  No member of management /staff / client shall be allowed if he /she is having any symptom of Covid-19 like fever, cough, difficulty in breathing etc.
•  No person who is Covid-19 Positive or under home quarantine /home isolation shall use these facilities.
• Mo member of management /staff client shall be allowed to enter or remain inside the premises without face mask.
• Staff must wear protective gears such as transparent plastic face shield/screen, disposal triple layer mask, hand-gloves, apron and other single-use supplies.
• Clients are encouraged to bring their own gown and towels.
• All staff must sanitise their hands after giving service to a client.
• All equipment and non-disposable tools shall be sanitized after each use on client using 1% solution of Sodium Hypochlorite, It is advisable to keep multiple sets so as to use other while one set is getting disinfected.
• Frequently touched surfaces like chairs, tabletops, door knobs, handles, taps, sinks, handrails etc. and floor/common areas must be cleaned at least 3-4 times a day with 1% Sodium Hypochlorite solution or household bleach or detergent. Where bleach cannot be applied, at least 70% alcohol-based sanitiser can be used to disinfect surfaces. Hand gloves should be worn while cleaning.
• Magazines, newspapers and reading material should not be made available in the shops. Remote control of TV etc. shall also be handled by only assigned person and should be disinfected regularly.
• All used masks, hand gloves and other disposable items should be soaked in household bleach solution for 10 minutes prior to safe disposal.
• Shop owner should introduce electronic transaction such as POS Card Swiping machine, mobile payment, etc. to facilitate cashless transaction and minimise physical contact. In case of cash payment, customer should be encouraged to pay the exact amount to reduce physical contact.
• All shops should mandatorily maintain a daily log book of all clients with the following details- name and verified phone number. To verify the mobile number, the client should be asked to give a call from his/her mobile phone to the mobile number displayed visibly in the shop.
• All staff members shall be properly guided about these guidelines by the management /owner.
• All shops will put up a notice on the above mentioned SOP displayed prominently for the information of customers.
• Any violation of the guidelines and protocols will attract action as per legal provisions against the management of the premises or the visitor/client as the case may be.