J&K Government issues fresh guidelines,instructions to contain COVID-19

SRINAGAR: The J&K Government on Sunday issued fresh guidelines/instructions for regulating activities within the Union Territory from June 08, 2020, for effective containment of COVID-19.

An order issued by the Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam, who is also the Chairperson, State Executive Committee, said that all the SOPs and instructions issued earlier in this regard or in today’s order shall be deemed to have been extended till the validity of this order or modified otherwise. Any deviation from this order shall attract penal action under Disaster Management Act, 2005, the order said.

Guidelines/ Instructions for regulating activities in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir during the extended period of Lockdown, w.e.f. 8th June 2020.

General Instructions:

1) These instructions are being issued for regulating activities that are to be permitted during the extended period of lockdown (Unlock-1) in pursuance of MHA’s order No.40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 30th May, 2020. These instructions shall remain in force till further orders, unless modified or withdrawn earlier.

2) No fresh permission/ passes are required for activities which were already permitted under earlier orders.All instructions relating to safety, health precautions, social distancing, etc., continue to apply.

Non-Permissible activities in the entire UT of J&K:

3) The following activities shall continue to remain prohibited across the entire Union Territory of J&K, irrespective of the categorization of the districts, w.e.f. 08th June 2020, till further orders:

(i) Inter-UT/state, Inter-province and Inter-district Buses for public transport and private vehicles, except those permitted under this order in specific categories of districts as per the procedure prescribed.

(ii) All schools, colleges, universities, educational / training/coaching institutions (including Anganwadi centres), etc. However, online/ distance learning shall be permitted. Their offices can continue to function for administrative purposes.

(iii) All cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, Spas, theatres, bars. auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.

(iv) All social / political / sports / entertainment / academic / cultural / religious functions and other large gatherings and congregations. Religious Places/ places of worship shall continue to remain closed for public till further orders.

(v) There shall be no inter-province or inter-State/UT movement of individuals except after obtaining permissions or in permitted public transport, after following prescribed health protocols.

(vi) The movement of individuals for all non-essential activities between 8 pm to 5 am. District Magistrates shall issue specific prohibitory orders in this regard under Section 144 of CrPC.

(vii) Persons above 65 years of age, persons and with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements or for health purposes.

Continuation of Activities already regulated in the UT of J&K:

4) The following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/ guidelines/ instructions issued by the JK SEC from time to time (available on the website — www ikdad.nic.in) shall remain applicable in all the districts:

14. Standard Operating Procedure for Red zones (also known as Containment Zones) (Dated 14.04.2020).
15. Standard Operating Procedure for regulating the movement of migrant workers, stranded students and others (Dated 30.04.2020).
16. Standard Operating Procedure for issuance of movement permissions, dated 19.05.2020 (Attachment A with this order).
17. Protocol for compulsory RTPCR testing and quarantining, issued vide G.0 no. 51- JK (DMRRR) of 2020 dated 11.05.2020 read with 60- JK (DMRRR) of 2020 dated 07.06.2020.

5) All activities permitted under earlier Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) / guidelines/ instructions, and the above, shall continue to be permitted in the UT of J&K. except in the areas identified as the “Containment Zones”, and no fresh permissions would be needed except where fresh relaxations are being given under this order.

Protocol to be followed for all Returnees/ Travelers coming into Jammu & Kashmir

6) All passengers, returnees or travellers coming to Jammu & Kashmir. whether by road, rail or air, will have to compulsorily undergo a COVID-19 RTPCR test following which they will be under a 14 day administrative/ institutional quarantine till the test result is negative, in which case they are released for Home Quarantine or positive, in which case they are sent to a COVID hospital for treatment.

Containment Zone (earlier Red Zone) protocol

7) Areas identified by the Deputy Commissioner within a district as a potential zone of infection will be referred to as a Containment Zone / Red Zone. The SOP/instructions issued by the State Executive Committee vide its order No. 38-JK(DMRRR) of 2020 dated 14.04.2020 for Red Zones/ Hot Spots will be valid for Containment Zones/ Red Zones and will be read as the SOP / Instructions for “Containment Zones” within the districts. The term “Red Zone” used in the earlier SOP shall also mean “Containment Zone”. In addition, the Deputy Commissioners will take the following actions in the identified “Containment Zones”: –

1. Ensure 100% coverage of Aarogya Setu App among the residents of Containment Zone. ii. Aggressive contact tracing. iii. Home or Administrative quarantine of individuals based on the risk assessment by CMOs.
2. Compulsory testing of all cases with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and other similar symptoms specified by MoHFW.
3. House to house surveillance by special team constituted for this purpose more frequently.
4. Private clinics and OPDs are not permitted.

Activities permitted in the entire UT of Jammu & Kashmir, with PERMISSIONS needed only in such areas where indicated against an activity

8) Normal functioning of private hospitals. clinics and nursing homes (including OPD services).

9) All E-commerce and Courier services.

10) All agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and related activities.

11) Canteens/Eateries at Bus stands, Railway stations and Airports, with passes in Red districts.

12) All restaurants, including in hotels, can operate for home delivery and take away only, without dine-ins, subject to the SOP of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India, dated 4th June, 2020

13) Hotels and hospitality services, can operate at 50% capacity, subject to the SOP of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India, dated 41h June, 2020, with particular focus on: a) Full protection gear and equipment should be provided to Hotel staff b) Details of guests with entire travel history to be maintained. c) Only Room service of food should be done instead of in dine-in restaurants. d) Frequent sanitization of common areas and spaces to be done. e) Necessary health precautions for guests and staff.

14) All Shopping Malls, can open subject to the SOP of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India, dated 4th June, 2020, except in Red districts where they will operate with 50% of shops open on alternate days to be regulated by the Deputy Commissioners concerned. There will be particular focus on: a. Shops in Malls can open from 9 am till 7 pm. b. Special markings for social distancing, wherever needed. c. Air conditioning of Malls to follow guidelines of CPWD (temperature range of 24-30 degree Celsius, relative humidity in the range of 40-70% with adequate cross ventilation and intake of fresh air. d. Food Courts and dining facilities in Malls will not be allowed for dine-in purpose. However. home-delivery /take-away service is permitted. e. Children’s gaming zones, gaming arcades and cinemas inside Malls shall remain closed.

1. All railings and door knobs to be frequently sanitized with sodium hypochlorite solution. g. District Magistrates will regulate the above to ensure that there is no congestion and social distancing is maintained.

15) Banks and Financial Services.

16) Liquor shops and manufacturing units.

17) Barbershops, saloons and parlours, subject to the SOP issued for such establishments separately and which will be enforced strictly.

18) Self-employed service providers such as Plumbers, technicians, electricians etc.

19) Auto-rickshaws with a maximum of two passengers, only intra-district.

20) Intra-district movement of individuals in vehicles is allowed, with a maximum of 2 passengers, besides the driver, in four-wheeler vehicles, and with no pillion rider in case of two wheelers, with passes in Red districts.

21) Intra-district public passenger transport vehicles (buses and mini-buses only and not maxi-cabs) can operate with upto 2/3rd seating capacity for buses and upto 50% seating capacity for mini-buses on routes to be notified by Transport Department, with only JKSRTC permitted in Red Districts.

22) Inter-district public passenger transport vehicles (buses and mini-buses only and not maxi-cabs) can operate with upto 2/3rd seating capacity for buses and upto 50% seating capacity for mini-buses by JKSRTC only on routes to be notified by Transport Department.

23) Marriage related functions, with not more than 50 persons maintaining social distancing, with permission required for the function in Red Districts.

24) Funeral / last rites related rituals with not more than 20 persons maintaining social distancing.

Additional activities permitted in Orange Districts (NO PASSES NEEDED)

25) All shops, including in market areas/ bazaars/ market complexes, subject to the following:

1. In the limits of Municipal Corporations, shops will remain open from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m. b. There will be no parking on roads of bazaars/ market complexes/ market areas to prevent congestion and ensure social distancing, except where there is paid parking of the Municipal Corporation concerned and there are two free lanes for traffic flow. c. District Magistrates will regulate markets to ensure there is no congestion and social distancing is maintained.

26) All private offices, with full (100%) strength of staff, self-regulated by office in-charge to follow the SOP of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India, dated 4111 June, 2020.

27) Sports activities in Stadia and sports complexes, without the presence of spectators in urban areas.

28) Inter-district movement of individuals in private vehicles between a pair of Green/ Orange districts. without crossing a Red district.with a maximum of 2 passengers, besides the driver, in four wheeler vehicles, and with no pillion rider in case of two wheelers.

29) Taxi and Cab aggregators are permitted to ply with one driver and two passengers only within the district. Maxi-cabs operate with a maximum of 4 passengers only within the district.

Additional activities permitted in Green Districts (NO PASSES NEEDED)

30) All activities permitted in Orange districts.

31) Taxi and Cab aggregators with one driver and two passengers and Maxi-cabs with 4 passengers are permitted to ply only within the district, or between Green districts only.

32) Inter-district public passenger transport vehicles (buses and mini-buses only) can operate with upto 2/3rd seating capacity for buses and upto 50% seating capacity for mini-buses by any operator on routes to be notified by Transport Department between contiguous Green districts.

Restrictions in Red Districts

33) All shops, including in market areas/ bazaars/ market complexes, subject to the following: a. In the limits of Municipal Corporations, shops will remain open from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m. b. Only 50% of the shops in market areas/ bazaars/ market complexes, will open on alternate days, to be regulated by the Deputy Commissioners concerned c. There will be no parking on roads of bazaars/ market complexes/ market areas to prevent congestion and ensure social distancing, except where there is paid parking of the Municipal Corporation concerned and there are two free lanes for traffic flow. d. District Magistrates will regulate markets to ensure there is no congestion and social distancing is maintained.

34) Private offices are permitted to function with full (100%) attendance, with passes needed for staff as prescribed. The office in-charge will try to limit presence of staff to 50% to the extent possible and follow the SOP of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Govt of India, dated 4th June, 2020.

35) Sports activities in Stadia and sports complexes, without the presence of spectators in urban areas.

36) There shall be a complete prohibition on inter-district movement of individuals between: a. Green/ Orange Districts on one side and Red Districts on the other b. Between two Red Districts c. Crossing a Red District except after following prescribed procedure at Attachment A.

37) Intra-district I Inter-District public passenger transport vehicles will be run by JKSRTC only with upto 2/31d seating capacity for buses and upto 50% seating capacity for mini-buses on routes to be notified by Transport Department.

Measures to be taken on occurrence of POSITIVE CASE(s) in Offices, Hotels, Restaurants, Shopping Malls

38) Despite taking the above measures, the occurrence of cases among the employees working in Offices, Shopping Malls, Hotels, Hospitality Services and Restaurants, etc. cannot be ruled out. The following measures will be taken in such circumstances’

When one or few worker/employee(s) who is/are found to be suffering from symptoms suggestive of COVID-19:

1. Place the ill person in home isolation, b. Immediately inform the Chief Medical Officer and SHO of concerned Police Station, c. A risk assessment will be undertaken by the concerned district authorities and accordingly, further action shall be taken regarding management of the case, his/her contacts and need for disinfection. d. Necessary actions for contact tracing, disinfection of work place etc. will start if the report of the patient is received as positive. The report will be expedited for this purpose.

If there are a large numbers of contacts from a pre-symptomatic/ asymptomatic case, there could be a possibility of a cluster emerging in the workplace I institutional setting. Due to the close environment in such settings, this could even be a large cluster (>15 cases). The essential principles of risk assessment, isolation, and quarantine of contacts, case referral and management will remain the same. However, the scale of arrangements will be higher.

iii. The high risk exposure contacts of a positive case shall be quarantined for 14 days.

39) Closure of workplace:

If there is just one case reported, the disinfection procedure will be limited to places/areas visited by the patient in the past 48 hours. There is no need to close the entire office building/ halt work in other areas of the office and work can be resumed after disinfection as per laid down protocol.

1. However, if there is a larger outbreak with 2 or more positives,

the entire building will have to be closed for 48 hours for thorough disinfection. All the staff will work from home, till the building is adequately disinfected and is declared fit for re-occupation,

Industrial and Service activities

40) Industrial activities can resume at all industrial estates. These activities can resume with 100% work force in Green, Orange and Red districts in industrial estates.

41) Industrial activities can resume in all rural areas outside municipal limits, with 100% of work force.

42) In Urban areas in Red and Orange Districts, for Industries within Municipal Limits, industrial activities can resume with the permission as laid down in Attachment B and with 75 % workforce.

43) All workshops, service centers and home workshops can operate with not more than 5 persons working on site/ inside premises.

44) All Industries will have to comply with the health. safety and other instructions in Attachment B.

Activities in Rural Areas

45) There will be no restrictions, except those mentioned in para 3 above and additional restrictions in Red districts.

46) The ArogyaSetu App will be promoted/ downloaded among MGNREGA workers to the extent possible.

47) For rural construction activities, all district and field level authorities would ensure;

1. maintenance of social distancing, ii. use of protective face covers/ masks iii. Repeated washing of hands with soap and water themselves and by MGNREGA workers.

For rural construction activities, masks are to be issued to the MGNREGA workers and departmental staff by the DDC as per Government instructions and beneficiaries to be encouraged to use homemade masks at work site and at home through the distribution of prescribed manual on masks.

48) The detailed SoP issued by MoRD, Gol in light of MHA guidelines shall have adhered strictly.

49) For RED districts, the District Development Commissioners shall provide duty passes to field functionaries (BDONLW/JE/PO/TA/GRS), on a need basis, for implementation of MGNREGS (allotment of works, measurement/ billing and attendance).

Construction activities

50) In construction projects in municipal limits, the labour/construction workers shall have to stay at the construction site (inside). The concerned contractor in coordination with the Executive Engineer shall make sufficient arrangement for their stay, providing of masks/sanitation to the labourers and keep the social distance norms in place while carrying on the construction works.

51) In construction projects in rural areas, the labour has to stay in the areas adjoining the construction site There shall be no huge scale daily movement of labourers/ long distances. The contractor in consultation with engineering staff shall make arrangement for their stay, providing of masks/ sanitation to the labourers and keep the social distance norms in place while carrying the construction works.

For Private Projects: 

52) Private construction activities shall be allowed in all Green and Orange districts, without any need for permission. The labour in all projects in Urban Municipal limits have to be kept in-situ only. Health precautions and instructions as mentioned at para 40-44 below will be strictly required to be followed. In Red Districts, District Magistrates will assess the ground situation and issue permissions as necessary both for construction and any related movement.

53) Construction activities for government projects will be regulated as per the SOP laid down in Attachment C.

ATTACHMENT – A Instructions on Movement of Individuals to be effective from 8th June, 2020

1. This SOP is issued for standardising the process of movement of individuals, wherever required, to allow activities permitted from 08.06.2020 under the revised guidelines/ instructions issued by the State Executive Committee order dated 07.06.2020.

2 The Passes shall be issued only for the activities allowed under the MHA/JK State Executive Committee orders/guidelines/instructions.

3. This SOP shall not be applicable in the areas identified as Containment Zones (Red Zones). In such areas,the SOP already issued vide JK SEC order no.38-JK (DMRRR) of 2020 dated 14-04-2020 shall remain valid.
4. Intra-District Movement: No movement ;passes shall be required for intra-district movement of individuals in Orange and Green Districts. This movement, however, will only be permitted in private vehicles subject to a maximum of two passengers, besides the driver, in four wheeler vehicles and with no pillion rider in case of two wheelers.
5. Movement passes will be required for intra-district movement of individuals in Red Districts from the Deputy Commissioners, who shall examine the need and issue passes for such movement, as per laid down procedure.
6. Inter-District Movement: There shall be a complete prohibition on inter-district movement of individuals between:
7. Green/ Orange Districts on one side and Red Districts on the other Between two Red Districts c. Crossing a Red District except after obtaining Passes from the Deputy Commissioner concerned. It shall be issued only for rare exigencies like medical reasons or death of an immediate relation in family or for activities permitted through instructions/SOPs notified by JK SEC or approved operations of JKSRTC. Individuals can however move without Passes between Green and Orange districts.
8. Inter-Province Movement: There shall be no inter-province movement of individuals except after obtaining Permissions from the Divisional Commissioner concerned or approved operations as per SOPs issued. It shall be issued only for rare exigencies like medical reasons or death of an immediate relation in family or for activities permitted through instructions/ SOPs notified by JK SEC or approved operations of JKSRTC.
9. Inter-State Movement: There shall be a complete prohibition on inter-State/UT movement of individuals except after obtaining Permissions from the Divisional Commissioner concerned or approved operations as per SOPs issued. It shall be issued only for rare exigencies like medical reasons or death of immediate relation in family or for activities permitted through instructions/SOPs notified by JK SEC. It shall be issued only after consulting the officer in charge of Lakhanpur road entry point

9 If a critical patient is being moved in an Ambulance without a pass, due to extreme emergency, such vehicle should not be stopped merely on the ground that it is without a valid Pass. The Officer in charge of the checking point/naka is expected to exercise his wisdom to allow such movement even if it is interstate/province/district.

10. All other Passes shall be issued by the Deputy Commissioner concerned after following the procedure given in Part-A of this SOP.
11. All the passes already issued by the Deputy Commissioners for daily movement shall remain valid till the extended lockdown period as well. However, the DCs may issue general or specific orders extending or revoking the validity of any category/type of passes, as deemed appropriate.

Instructions for movement of goods carrier

12. Passes are not required for movement of goods carriers (registered as such)within the UT of J&K, with one driver and one cleaner, and

 

ATTACHMENT – B Standard Operating Procedure for Industrial Activities Following instructions shall have to be complied with by both government and Private contractors and workers —

Efforts will be made at minimizing the commuting.

1. As far as possible, all workers are to be accommodated within the premises and/ or in adjacent buildings. Boarding, lodging arrangement in and around premises of the units shall be made. b. Wherever it is not possible to accommodate the staff/ workers in the unit premises, separate dedicated transport arrangement shall be made for ferrying workers without any dependence on the public transport system. They should be allowed to ply with only 50% (for small vehicles) and 67% (for large vehicles) passenger capacity.
2. Small unit holders may organize pooled buses through associations for ferrying work force.
3. Sanitization of high quality of premises shall be ensured. a. All areas in the premises including entrance gates, cafeteria and canteens, meeting rooms, halls, corridors, common areas. equipment, lifts. washrooms, toilets, sinks, water points, walls and other surfaces shall be disinfected completely. b. All vehicles and machinery entering the premise should be disinfected by spray mandatorily. c. All units shall sanitize their work places between shifts. Frequent cleaning of common surfaces and mandatory hand washing shall be ensured.
4. Health and Hygiene of high standard shall be ensured by Unit holders/ management.
5. Face masks shall be provided to all workers. Hygienic environment shall be maintained. Temperature screening shall be mandatory for everyone entering and entering and exiting the workplace. Units shall ensure a single entry point for workers. Chewing Gutka, Tobacco etc.. and spitting is strictly prohibited. 4. Social Distancing shall be ensured. a. Large gathering or meetings of 10 or more people to be discouraged. b. Seating at least 6 feet away from others on job sites would be mandatory. c. No more than 214 persons (depending on size) will be allowed to travel in lifts or hoists. Use of staircase should be encouraged. d. Shifts may be so operated that it does not leads to crowding during beginning/ end of the shifts. Work places shall have a gap of one hour between shifts and will stagger the lunch breaks of staff to ensure social distancing.
   1. There will be total ban on non-essential visitors at sites.
   2. Use of Arogyasetu will be encouraged for all employees both private and public.
   3. Medical insurance for the workers will be mandatory 7. Intensive Communication and training on good hygiene practices shall be taken up. Hospitals/ Clinics in the nearby areas, which are authorized to treat COVID19 patients should be identified and list should be available at work place for all the times.
   4. Workers not to be allowed from red/containment zones, colonies/basties where COVID19 cases are suspected.

   These conditions shall be strictly implemented by the unitholders in the units allowed to operate. Weekly inspections will be carried out by the teams of functional managers and industry promotion managers to be constituted by General Manager DICs. Director of Industry and Commerce (Kashmir/ Jammu) shall supervise and ensure complete compliance.

   Procedure to be followed for operationalization of the Units allowed

   1. Units falling in the category of essential supplies production/ services as permitted category shall apply to General Manager DICs with details of the workers and production line to be started. They shall also indicate the requirement of vehicle and manpower movement passes required for raw material/ finished products as well as work force.
   2. After verification of details, GM DICs shall forward the request to the Director of Industries and Commerce. The Directors shall examine the request in light of the instructions of the government issued in this regard and shall issue orders for permission to operate the units stating the details of the unit, line of activity allowed and also the minimum manpower allowed for the unit. Besides also the requirement of vehicle and manpower passes shall also be stated.
   3. Unit holders shall not approach the DC office directly. They shall approach GM DICs of respective districts to get passes for vehicles and individuals who have to essentially commute for running the units. GM DICs will take up the request with DC office for ensuring that essential requirement is met for ensuring smooth movement of vehicles for ferrying manpower, bringing raw material and transporting finished goods. GM DICs shall liaison with DC office to seek the required movement passes and facilitate the units accordingly.
   4. GM DICs shall ensure that all above instructions and mandatory requirements are followed by the unit holders in letter and spirit. Weekly inspections shall be carried out to ensure the same.
   5. Wherever inter-district movement is essentially required the passes shall be issued by district administration specifically allowing validity for inter-district movement.
   6. Any unit if found violating the requirements/ compliances as stated shall be liable for strict action and permission to operate the unit shall be withdrawn.

   ATTACHMENT – C

   Standard Operating Procedure for Government Construction Activities

   For Government projects (Para 1-4 applicable only for RED districts)-

   1) The concerned Executive Engineer shall identify the works to be resumed during the lockdown period. A list of such projects/works shall be shared with the concerned district magistrates.

   2) The concerned Executive Engineers will prepare the list of the required machinery and equipments to be deployed at the identified construction sites/works and same shall be submitted to the concerned District Magistrates permission for its movement/operation.

   3) If required, the concerned Executive Engineers shall also workout the requirement of the raw material and its transportation from the source to the site of the construction with details of the vehicles and drivers to be deployed with the concerned DMs for permission of transportation of such material.

   4) The concerned Executive Engineers shall also provide the list of the minimum Engineering/supervisory staff required with full particulars and same shall be submitted to the concerned DMs for issuance of passes in their favour.

   (Para 5-11 applicable to All districts)-

   5) The concerned Executive Engineer in consultation with the concerned contractors shall workout the reasonable requirement of the labour to carry out the construction activities of identified works/projects. The list of the labour required to be mobilized with full detail from end to end shall be submitted to the concerned District Magistrates for issue of one time passes for intra/inter-district mobilization

   6) All district and field level authorities would ensure

   1. the maintenance of social distancing, ii. use of protective face covers/ masks iii. Repeated washing of hands with soap and water themselves and by workers.

   7) Utmost care shall be taken by the concerned Engineers/ contractors for meeting the social distancing norms by the construction worker/labourers at the construction sites.

   8) All the construction departments/agencies shall adopt the Standard Operating Procedure for social distancing as well as sanitization adhering_to the instruction issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India and by the UT Government /District Magistrates from time to time.

   9) The Chief Engineers/officers nominated by the other departments, shall monitor the resumption of the construction activities from the notified date as per the guidelines.

   10) In construction projects in municipal limits, the labour/construction workers shall have to stay at the construction site (inside). The concerned contractor in coordination with the Executive Engineer shall make sufficient arrangement for their stay, providing of masks/sanitation to the labourers and keep the social distance norms in place while carrying on the construction works.

   11) In construction projects in rural areas, the labour has to stay in the areas adjoining the construction site There shall be no huge scale daily movement of labourers/long distances. The contractor in consultation with engineering staff shall make arrangement for their stay, providing of masks/ sanitation to the labourers and keep the social distance norms in place while carrying the construction works.