The Covid-19 virus has spread havoc and in India, we have been under 3 lockdowns with gradual relaxations from 25 March 2020 to 17 May 2020. As the lockdowns are gradually lifted, it is evident that the problem is not going away and we will have to live with the virus for some time and continue the business and personal lives with extreme safeguards.

To mitigate the hardship of the public, the Government of India - Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) on April 15, 2020 where select additional activities will be allowed from April 20, 2020 along with consolidated revised guidelines incorporating the relaxations, including National Directives for COVID-19 Management at public, workplaces and manufacturing establishments. The order also contains the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to be developed and implemented for social distancing at offices, workplaces, factories and establishments. These guidelines were revised in the Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I (A) dt. 1st May, 2020.

The order further specifies that before operating these relaxations (except in containment zones), States / UTs/District Administrators shall ensure that all preparatory arrangements regarding social distancing in offices, workplaces, factories and establishments as also other sectoral requirements are in place. If any new area is subsequently categorized as containment zone, then such additional activities will be suitably discontinued. Under the circumstances, it is imperative that the organisations adapt to a “New Normal” way of working post shutdowns.

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