Despite most organisations hoping to resume business from April 15, 2020, i.e. after 21 days of nationwide lockdown, considering the ongoing mayhem caused by the Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19), it was not surprising that the Central Government has decided to extend the lockdown till May 3, 2020.

Further, 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.

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.

Hoping that the situation improves from here on and that apart from the activities relaxed from April 20, 2020, most organisations can resume businesses from May 4, 2020, it is imperative that the organisations adapt to a “New Normal” way of working.

Accordingly, to supplement the COVID – 19 Risk Management Guidelines released by RSM India on March 30, 2020, we are pleased to issue these Guidelines containing relevant steps that could help organisations mitigate and manage risks during and post resumption of business operations and gear-up from the phase of Lockdown to a New Dawn. For your ease of reference, the enclosed document is divided into 2 parts:

a)    Business Operational Guidelines

b)    Health and Safety Precautions

In this document, we have aimed to provide an overview of the possible policies and procedures to be adopted by organizations at workplace as measures to cope up with outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

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