The Ministry of Health and Family welfare on 1st March 2021 has issued SOP on preventive measures in Hotels and other Hospitality Units to contain spread of COVID-19 in supersession of guidelines issued earlier on 4th June 2020.
The SOP aims to minimize all possible physical contacts between Staff and Guests and maintain physical distancing and other preventive and safety measures against COVID-19.
Person above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant woman and children below the age of 10 years are advised to take necessary precautions in terms of maintaining physical distancing, wearing mask properly etc. Hotel management to advise accordingly.
Further 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.
All hotels shall ensure the following:
- 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 physical distancing in the premises.
- Number of people in the elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining physical distancing norms. Use of escalators with one person on alternate steps may be encouraged.
- Details of the guest (travel history, medical condition etc.) along with ID and selfdeclaration form must be provided by the guest at the reception.
- Hotels must adopt contactless processes like QR code, online forms, digital payments like e-wallet etc. for both check-in and check-out.
- Luggage should be disinfected before sending the luggage to rooms.
- Required precautions while handling supplies, inventories and goods in the hotel shall be ensured. Proper queue management and disinfection shall be organized.
- 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.
- For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed which mentions that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30o C, 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.
