Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that all the offices of government departments, semi-government corporations and autonomous bodies will remain open from Monday, May 4, in view of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. Speaking to media persons, Sawant said that persons in-charge of work places are directed to ensure social distancing as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, both within the work places and in public transport apart from compulsory wearing of face cover in all work places. Social distancing at work places would be ensured through adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc. Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitizer preferably with touch free mechanism will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas along with sufficient quantities of hand wash and sanitizer in the work places, he stated. It has also directed to ensure frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact eg door handles etc, to be ensured, including between shifts. The government has also made use of Aarogya Setu app mandatory for all employees, both private and public. It shall be the responsibility of the head of the respective organisations to ensure 100 per cent coverage of this app among the employees. The Chief Minister said that persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years should stay at home, except for indenting essential requirements and for health purposes. Large physical meetings would be avoided. Hospitals and clinics in the nearby areas, which are authorised to treat COVID-19 patients, should be identified and a list will be made available at work place all the times. Employees showing any symptom of COVID-19 would be immediately sent for check-up to such clinics. Quarantine areas should be earmarked for isolating employees showing symptoms till they are safely moved to the medical facilities. In this regard, detailed instructions are being issued by the directorate of health services. Sawant further said that head of departments have been requested to instruct their staff to remain at home if they have cough, cold, fever or if they are short or breath, etc and advised to take appropriate medical care through government doctors. The doctor's advice and prescription be made available to the head of department digitally for information.
Wholesale and retail liquor shops permitted to operate till 6 pm The government has permitted sale of liquor by wholesalers and retailers in sealed bottles from Monday. An order to this effect was issued by the Commissioner of Excise on Sunday. The liquor shops will open at their usual permitted time and must close by 6 pm to enable employer and employees to reach home by 7 pm. The seller has been asked to ensure that customers maintain minimum six-feet distance from each other and also ensure that not more than five persons are present in the queue. However, the order has categorically stated that under no circumstances any premises for consumption of liquor ie bar and tavern and those premises disallowed by the government will be allowed to operate. Barber shops and salons is allowed to open from Monday, he said.
Paan shops, sale consumption of gutkha and tobacco to remain shut
Paan shops will continue to be banned across the State though the same has been allowed for green zones by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines issued on May 1. The Chief Minister said that the paan and tea shops will continue to remain closed in Goa till May 17. Sale and consumption of paan, tobacco and gutkha in public places has also been banned, he said and warned that if any shop or kiosk is found selling these banned items it will be sealed till the end of lockdown 3.0 ie May 17. Hotels and restaurants, beach shacks, street food vendors, cinema halls, malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, massage parlours and religious or public worship places have been prohibited and violators will be booked under section 188 of IPC. However, hospitality services used for quarantine facilities will be allowed to open.
Travel relaxation CM Pramod Sawant clarified that two persons on two-wheeler and four persons in four wheeler and autorikshaw and taxi will be allowed in third phase of lockdown. Earlier, the MHA had prohibited pillion rider except if he/she was wearing a headgear and allowed only two persons in the car, that too the non-driver had to sit at the rear seat.