Social Distancing in the workplace is a must!
–Department of Public Service circular outlines additional recommendations for workplaces
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, March 28, 2020
To provide continued essential government services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Public Service has implemented additional measures to keep staff and the public safe.
Highlighting the need for critical preventative measures, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service Soyinka Grogan in a release Saturday said: “Heads of Agencies, in consolation with their senior staff, must determine the most appropriate work arrangements in the context of each agency’s mandate.”
The release also recommended Heads of agencies ensure that all staff are afforded adequate sanitisation items, such as soap, disinfectants, hand sanitiser and approved masks if necessary.
Staff are reminded to practice social distancing, also referred to as physical distancing at all times inside the workplace, at home, on public/private transportation etc.
PS Grogan further explained that all heads of departments and agencies need to ensure an urgent response is in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The measures should be in place from March 30 to April 30, 2020.
Only critical and essential staff should be physically present in the workplace. Heads of Agencies are reminded to determine rotational arrangements and other appropriate arrangements for all critical and non-critical staff.
Where rotation is being considered it must not exceed one-week, and staff are expected to be ‘on call’ and be prepared to work on short notice, should the need arise.
It is also the responsibility of workplace leadership to remind all staff that if any of them exhibit flu-like symptoms, they should call the dedicated COVID-19 hotline numbers (231-1166, 226-7480) and NOT show up at any hospital or health facility.
The release also noted the Public Service Rule ‘H45’ which requires all public servants to produce a medical certificate after being sick and absent for three consecutive days is still in effect. Staff who are absent due to a mandatory COVID-19 quarantine for 14 days must be cleared by a Medical Practitioner prior to resuming duty.
It was also advised that all departments sanitise their work environments throughout the workday to ensure that all staff and the visiting public are protected from any potential infection of COVID-19.