COVID-19 ; RISK MITIGATION MEASURES

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) as on 09.01.2022

In view of the onset of the 3rd wave of Covid, the revised SOP is being issued in line
with the latest Government of India instructions, which is to be strictly adhered to.
Sl. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
1. INITIAL SYMPTOMS
a) Employees should not come to office if they feel unwell.
b) If an employee feels unwell or exhibits symptoms like cold, cough, sore
throat, fever, loose motions etc. he/she should immediately consult a
Doctor.
c) After undergoing a test, until a Negative report comes, the employee
must not come to office. Even at home, they should keep themselves
isolated.
d) Ambulances available at Zonal Offices to be utilized extensively for the
specified purpose.
2. MEASURES FOR EMPLOYEES TESTING COVID POSITIVE
a) Immediately report to the Head of Department/ Branch/ Office or the
Admin Head, who in turn will report by mail to the respective QRT.
b) If an employee has been home quarantined, he/she should stay in a
separate room, get completely isolated from family members and maintain
GoI protocol for isolation.
c) In terms of Govt of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare guidelines
dated 5th January, 2022, a person getting infected with Covid will be under
Home Isolation for a period of at least 07 days after testing positive
AND no fever for 3 days. There is no need for testing after home isolation
period is over. However, if local State Government guidelines are different,
then those guidelines have to be followed.
d) FOR CLOSE CONTACTS OF INFECTED STAFF
➢ Immediate Self-Quarantine of Staff Members who were in close contact
with the infected employee, for a period of 7 days from detection/last
exposure or as directed by the Municipal Authority. They have to
undergo Covid test on 7th day and if the report is negative, then join
office from next day.
➢ Self-Quarantine should also extend to people travelling with the
infected employee in the same car. The patient will list out names of
people in close association with him/her and they should be notified for
Self-Quarantine

Industrial Relations Department with Medical Department, Corporate Centre, Mumbai

 3. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN ON FAMILY MEMBERS BEING TESTED
COVID POSITIVE

a) If a symptomatic family member of an employee has undergone Covid

test, then the employee must immediately inform the HOD and proceed on
home isolation.
b) If a family member of an employee tests positive for Covid, the employee
will have to observe 07 days’ mandatory quarantine at home or as
directed by local State Government. The employee has to undergo Covid
test on 7th day and if the report is negative, then join office from next day.
4. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN CASE HOSPITALISATION IS
REQUIRED
a) In case hospitalization is necessary, assistance may be taken from the
following resource persons for getting beds in empanelled hospitals
(where cashless facility is available on issuance of credit note from the
Medical Dept). Support officers to be identified and name and contact
numbers to be circulated.
b) Due to very high demand for hospital beds and the shortage of such
facilities, at times beds may not be available immediately. For the sake of
immediate medical supervision, it is advisable to try for admission in non-
empanelled hospitals, too. In such cases, full payment has to be made at
the hospital by the employee. If the employee needs some advance from
the Bank, the HOD will send a request letter to the higher authority.
Maximum tie up with the local hospitals should be encouraged.
c) The family members of the affected employee will normally make their own
arrangements for ambulance service for moving to the hospital and back.
The rates will be payable as per standardization.
d) On discharge from Hospital, the HOD and the respective Medical
Department / Dispensary must be informed.
5. ASSISTANCE IN CASE OF HOME QUARANTINE
a) The Medical Department/Dispensary at LHO / AO / RBO will maintain 4 to
5 times the usual stock of essential Covid medicines which will be provided
to all Covid affected employees who are under home quarantine, and not
admitted to any hospital.
b) Medical Department/Dispensary at LHO/AO/ RBO may stock Covid home
isolation kit which should include Tab Paracetamol 500mg, Tab Ivermectin,
Cough Syrup, Multivitamins, Tab Zinc, Tab Vitamin C. If required, oxygen
cylinders also to be stocked as per availability.
c) A kit with emergency medicines may be provided at each branch

Industrial Relations Department with Medical Department, Corporate Centre, Mumbai

 6. MEDICAL CONSULTATION

a) Any employee who is having any health issue which could be indicative of
possible Covid infection, may contact their respective Medical Department/
Medical Officer.
Medical Officers’ names and contact numbers to be widely circulated
b) To consult psychologist engaged at Sanjeevani Helpline, between 2pm-
4pm, if needed:
Ms. Saba Jivani – (022) 22858130

7. ESSENTIAL PROTOCOL TO BE FOLLOWED

✓ Wear a face mask at ALL times in the office and travel.

✓ Wash hands with soap and water at regular intervals
✓ Always keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others
✓ Avoid inter-floor/section movement to the maximum possible extent
✓ Daily checking of temperature of staff members at entry point
✓ Physical Meetings to be avoided as far as possible. VC/ MS
Teams/Webex to be used. If physical meeting cannot be avoided,
maximum 50% of the capacity in the room should be occupied, and
proper gap between chairs be maintained. Face masks should be worn
throughout by all participants.
✓ Close conversation to be avoided; More use of intercom to be made.
✓ Unless very necessary, use Easy Approval through SharePoint.
Movement of physical papers be minimized as far as possible.
✓ No Handshakes at all
✓ Make use of Vinyl sheets especially for front desk employees
which will work as a sneeze guard
✓ While sneezing, or coughing, one should cover one’s nose and mouth
with elbow or may use a tissue
✓ Regular sanitization of floors in all buildings (office and residential
complexes) to be ensured.
✓ Head of Department to ensure sanitization of cubicle/ work station and
its surrounding areas, if any staff member is found Covid positive.
✓ Announcement to be made twice in a day advising staff members to
follow Covid protocol such as wearing Mask, Hands sanitization,
maintaining social distancing, etc.
✓ Panic to be avoided; No negative messages to be circulated in
groups; Help colleagues in the hour of need, be their guide.

Industrial Relations Department with Medical Department, Corporate Centre, Mumbai

 8. IN EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE CASES
a) In the unfortunate event of demise of an employee, the Admin Head of the
Department concerned will take full charge and provide full assistance in
informing the family and relatives, performance of rituals etc. and
invocation of "Atoot" scheme, which will include payment of assistance
amount to the immediate family and making arrangements for the
members of the bereaved family. One officer to be designated as the one-
point in charge.
b) The HOD/ Admin Head will ensure submission of application for payment
of ex-gratia and other amounts payable to the family.

Follow Covid Protocol … Stay healthy and safe … Keep others safe

Industrial Relations Department with Medical Department, Corporate Centre, Mumbai