RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issued a number of guidelines for employees in the public and private sectors as part of measures to stem the spread of coronavirus. The ministry underlined the need for making available the necessary health and safety standards and procedures in an ideal work environment, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Ministry called for adhering to the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health to avoid infection with the virus, and take precautionary measures and report any infected cases by contacting the Ministry of Health Call Center No. 937. The guidelines issued by the ministry include the following: • Precaution to prevent contacts with employees coming from corona-hit countries for 14 days • Continuous sterilization of frequently used areas such as fingerprint devices, offices, reception counter, photocopy machines, doors and keyboards • Provision of hand sanitizers at workplaces and make available of masks for people with a runny nose or cough • Minimizing number of meetings, workshops, training courses and gatherings • Enhancing frequency of video conferences and activating remote work • Encouraging staff to consult a doctor early when any symptoms of the disease appear, such as coughing or high temperature or cold symptoms • Urging virus-suspected staff to disclose it and visit the doctor and giving sick leave if necessary • Provision of hand sanitizers in prominent places in workplaces, encourage regular hand-washing and avoid handshakes • Displaying posters that promote healthcare and leave at least one meter distance between employees in the workplace.
