Isn't travelling after lockdown on everyone's mind right now? We just cannot wait to plan all the travelling after lockdown. Understanding how demanding lockdown has been for all of us, although International travel is not viable right now, safe, sanitized, nature weekend getaways would be great for travelling after lockdown.
To let you make the most of it, MHA and MoHFW have devised detailed SOP and plan of action for hotels, weekend getaways, hidden gems of India so that travelling after lockdown becomes feasible for you.
Government of India | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Guidelines
Do read these guidelines devised meticulously by MoHFW and check out Safe and Clean Nature Getaways, Sanitized Weekend Getaways, Safe Luxury Resorts, Rural Stays and plan a getaway after the lockdown is eased:
SOP on preventive measures in Hotels and Other Hospitality Units to contain the spread of COVID-19
- Background
All hotels and other hospitality units must take suitable measures to restrict any further
transmission of COVID-19 while providing accommodation and other tourist services. The
SOP aims to minimize all possible physical contacts between Staff and Guests and maintain
social distancing and other preventive and safety measures against COVID-19. - Scope
This document outlines various generic precautionary measures to be adopted in addition to
specific measures to be ensured in hotels and other hospitality units(henceforth, ‘hotels’)to
prevent spread of COVID-19.
Hotelsin containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones
will be allowed to open up. - Generic preventive measures
(A) 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. Hotel management to advise accordingly.
(B) The generic measures include simple public health measures that are to be followed to
reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures need to be observed by all (staff and
guests) in these places at all times.
These include:
i. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible.
ii. Use of face covers/masks to be made mandatory.
iii. Practice frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when
hands are not visibly dirty. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20
seconds) can be made wherever feasible.
iv. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering
one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed
elbow and disposing off used tissues properly.
v. Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest to state and
district helpline.
vi. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
vii. Installation and use of Aarogya Setuapp shall be advised to all.
- All Hotels shall ensure the following arrangements:
i. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal
screening provisions.
ii. Only asymptomatic staff and guests shall be allowed.
iii. All staff and guests to be allowed entry only if using face cover/masks. The face
cover/masks has to be worn at all times inside the hotel.
iv. Adequate manpower shall be deployed by hotel management for ensuring social
distancing norms.
v. Staff should additionally wear gloves and take other required precautionary
measures.
vi. All employees who are at higher risk i.e. older employees, pregnant employees and
employees who have underlying medical conditions, to take extra precautions. They
should preferably not be exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact
with the public. Hotel management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible.
vii. Proper crowd management in the hotel as well as in outside premises like parking
lots–duly following social distancing norms shall be ensured. Large
gatherings/congregations continue to remain prohibited.
viii. Valet parking, if available, shall be operational with operating staff wearing face
covers/ masks and gloves as appropriate. A proper disinfection of steering, door
handles, keys, etc. of the vehicles should be taken up.
ix. Preferably separate entry and exits for guests, staff and goods/supplies shall be
organized. Maintaining physical distancing of a minimum of 6 feet, when queuing up
for entry and inside the hotel as far as feasible. Specific markings may be made with
sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure social distancing in the
premises.
x. Number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining social
distancing norms. Use of escalators with one person on alternate steps may be
encouraged.
xi. Details of the guest (travel history, medical condition etc.) along with ID and self-
declaration form must be provided by the guest at the reception.
xii. Posters/standees/AV media on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be
displayed prominently.
xiii. Hand sanitizers must be kept at the reception for guests to use. Guests to sanitize
hands before and after filling relevant forms including A&D register.
xiv. Hotels must adopt contactless processes like QR code, online forms, digital
payments like e-wallet etc. for both check-in and check-out.
xv. Luggage should be disinfected before sending the luggage to rooms.
xvi. Guests who are at higher risk i.e. those who are older, pregnant or those who have
underlying medical conditions are advised to take extra precautions.
xvii. Guests should be advised not to visit areas falling with in containment zone
xviii. Required precautions while handling supplies, inventories and goods in the hotel
shall be ensured. Proper queue management and disinfection shall be organized.
xix. Appropriate personal protection gears like face covers/masks, gloves and hand
sanitizers etc.shall be made available by hotel to the staff as well as the guests.
xx. Detailed guidelines issued for restaurants shall be followed.
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a. Seating arrangement in the restaurant also to be made in such a way that
adequate social distancing is maintained.
b. Disposable menus are advised to be used.
c. Instead of cloth napkins, use of good quality disposable paper napkins to be
encouraged.
d. Contactless mode of ordering and digital mode of payment (using e-wallets)
to be encouraged.
e. Buffet service should also follow social distancing norms among guests.
xxi. Room service or takeaways to be encouraged, instead of dine-in. Food delivery
personnel should leave the packet at guest or customer’s door and not handed
directly to the receiver. The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by
the hotel authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.
xxii. For room service, communication between guests and in-house staff should be
through intercom/ mobile phone and room service (if any) should be provided while
maintaining adequate social distance.
xxiii. Gaming Arcades/Children play areas (wherever applicable) shall remain closed.
xxiv. For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed which
inter alia emphasises that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices
should be in the range of 24-30oC, relative humidity should be in the range of 40-
70%, intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should
be adequate.
xxv. Effective and frequent sanitation within the premises shall be maintained with
particular focus on lavatories, drinking and hand washing stations/areas.
xxvi. Cleaning and regular disinfection (using 1% sodium hypochlorite) of frequently
touched surfaces (door knobs, elevator buttons, hand rails, benches, washroom
fixtures, etc.) to be made mandatory in all guest service area and common areas.
xxvii. Proper disposal of face covers / masks / gloves left over by guests and/or staff
should be ensured.
xxviii. Deep cleaning of all washrooms shall be ensured at regular intervals.
xxix. Rooms and other service areasshall be sanitized each time a guest leaves.
xxx. In the kitchen, the staff should follow social distancing norms at work place. Kitchens
area must be sanitized at regular intervals.
xxxi. In case of a suspect or confirmed case in the premises:
a. Place the ill person in a room or area where they are isolated from others.
b. Provide a mask/face cover till such time he/she is examined by a doctor.
c. Immediately inform the nearest medical facility (hospital/clinic) or call the
state or district helpline.
d. A risk assessment will be undertaken by the designated public health
authority (district RRT/treating physician) and accordingly further action be
initiated regarding management of case, his/her contacts and need for
disinfection.
e. Disinfection of the premises to be taken up if the person is found positive.
