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Mission Begin Again: Maha govt allows reopening of hotels and restaurants from July 8th; issues SOPs for resumption

The state government has asked hotels to adopt contactless processes like QR code, online forms, digital payments like e-wallets etc. for both check-in, check-out

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Mission Begin Again: Maha govt allows reopening of hotels and restaurants from July 8th; issues SOPs for resumption

The Maharashtra government has further eased the lockdown restrictions imposed in the state in view of coronavirus outbreak. Under the fifth phase of its Mission Begin Again, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government has allowed reopening of hotels and other entities providing accommodation services like lodges and guest houses outside containment zones to operate from July 8 at 33 per cent of their capacity.

These entities if being used for quarantine facilities will continue to be used so unless decided otherwise by district/ municipal administration. Similarly, some part/ whole  of the balance unused capacity (67%) can also be used for quarantine facility by district/ municipal corporation.

The state government has laid out stringent conditions for hotels and other entities providing accommodation services including lodges and guest houses. As per the guideline, all the entities shall ensure that posters/ standees/ AV media on preventive measures about COVID-19 and the guidelines are to be displayed prominently.

Proper crowd management in the hotel as well as in outside premises like parking lots shall be ensured. Specific markings may be made to manage the queue and seating arrangement to be reconfigured in public places to ensure social distancing.

Entrance to have mandatory thermal screening provisions. Reception, table/ space should have protective glass. Hand sanitizers preferably with pedal operated dispensers must be made freely available at the reception, guest rooms and public spaces (lobbies etc) for guests.

Appropriate personal protection gears like face covers/ masks, gloves and etc should be made available by the hotel to the staff as well as guests. Hotels must adopt contactless processes like QR code, online forms, digital payments  like e-wallets etc. for both check-in, check-out and playing orders inside the premises.

Number of guests in the elevators to be restricted, duly maintaining social distancing norms. For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed which inter alia emphasizes that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30 C. Relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70%.

The guests should be allowed only if they are using face cover/mask, which has to be worn all the time inside the hotels, the government instructed.  Guests are to compulsorily use the Aarogya Setu app and are encouraged to minimise use of housekeeping services.

The seating arrangements in the restaurants should be reconfigured to ensure social distancing. E-menus and disposable paper napkins should be encouraged. Room service or takeaways should be encouraged, instead of dine-in service. The restaurants will be available only for resident guests strictly.

Gaming arcades/ Children play areas/ Swimming pools/ gymnasiums (wherever applicable) shall remain closed. Large gatherings/ congregations continue to remain prohibited inside the premises. However use of meetings halls at 33 % capacity subject to max of 15 participants is permitted.

Cleaning of Common areas and other areas should be done. The government has instructed to sanitise rooms and other services areas each time a guest vacates. The room should be left unoccupied for at least 24 hours after a clients stay is over. Disinfection of common areas like corridors, elevators, stairs etc. must be done regularly. All touch points must be cleaned with proper disinfectant (Sodium Hypochlorite).

After every check-out, tables, cupboards, wardrobes, lockers, light switches, mirrors, electronic devices or any other item which a guest may touch during his/her stay, should be cleaned properly.

Proper disposal of face covers, masks, gloves left over by the guests and/ or staff should be ensured in case of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case in the premises of hotels. The ill person should be kept in a room or area in isolation from others and the state/district authorities should be immediately informed about it.

Lastly, the government has also instructed to carry out disinfection of the hotel premises if a person is found to be coronavirus positive.