Several of the central ministries on Friday came out with new
office timings and work-from-home guidelines for employees amidst a countrywide
surge in COVID-19 cases. The new guidelines include reduced in-person attendance,
preparation of weekly rosters, and staggered timings, as per news agency ANI.

“It has been decided that all officers of the level of
Deputy Secretary and above will attend office at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, on
all working days. Officers of the level of Under Secretary and Section Officer
will attend office with fifty percent (50%) attendance on rotational basis.”, a
notification by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution states.

Also read: India records over 200,000 COVID-19 cases, second day in a row

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on the other
hand, produced a list of regulations to be followed, the first of which
addressed Directors or Deputy Secretaries to prepare a weekly roster and ensure
that 50% of employees worked from home.

“All officials who are working from home on a particular day
as per the roster drawn up should be available on telephone and
electronic means of communication at all times. They should attend office, if
called for any exigency of work”, it added.

“In view of the unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases in
Delhi, it has been decided to take measures to prevent its spread,” said guidelines
by the Home Ministry.

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“All officials who do not attend office on a particular day
are to make themselves available on phone from home at all times”, the notice further
said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday had
announced a weekend curfew in Delhi, which would be effective each weekend,
starting on Friday 10 pm till Monday 6 am.

India on Friday recorded more than 200,000 daily COVID-19 cases second day in a row, alongside 1,185 COVID-19 induced deaths in the last 24 hours.