Regularization of absence during COVID–19 pandemic period – Clarification by Department of Post order dated 09-07-2021

 Regularization of absence during COVID–19 pandemic period – Clarification by Department of Post order dated 09-07-2021

File No: X-20/42/2020-SPN-II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
(Personnel Division)

Dak Bhawan , Sansad Marg
New Delhi – 110 001
July 09th, 2021

To,

1. All Head of Circles
2. Chief General Manager, BD / Parcel /PLI Directorate / CEPT
3. Director, RAKNPA / Director, All Postal Training Centres

Subject: Regularization of absence during COVID – 19 pandemic period.

Madam / Sir,

Instructions for regularisation of absence of officers / officials of Department of Posts during lock-down / quarantine period, etc have been issued vide letter no. X-20/42/2021-SPN­-II dated  24.05.2021.

2. Taking into consideration the instructions issued by Department of Personnel and Training, vide O.M. No. 13020/ 112019-Estt.(L) dated 07.06.202, matter has been reviewed and the Competent Authority has decided to revise the instructions issued vide aforesaid letter dated 24.05.2021, as under :-

Sl No	Issue	Decision
a.	Period of quarantine / isolation as prescribed by authority from time to time on coming into contact with a Covid positive person while  in office or while carrying out official duty or while on official tour / transfer / deputation	Period  mentioned  in  (a),  (b)  and  (c)  shall  be treated as duty for all purposes.
b.	Period of absence due to restrictions on movement and travel imposed by he Central Government, State/ UT Govt/ District authorities, local authorities, residential society etc. and due to residential area concerned notified as containment zone and due to suspension of public transport due to which the employee is not able to attend office or return to his/her headquarters after availing sanctioned leave/ sanctioned LTC, permitted to eave HQ / official  tour / transfer  / deputation
c.	All the period during  which  the employee worked from  home  as  per the orders of controlling / competent authority.
d.	Period of quarantine / isolation as prescribed by authority on return to   headquarters    from    leave,  LTC, personal travel.	Period mentioned in (d), and (e) shall be regularised by sanction of leave applied for to the extent due and admissible.
e.	Period of absence due to quarantine / isolation/ restrictions on movement / travel etc. while away from HQ unauthorized.
f.	Period of absence due to the official / officer is COVID positive and is in home isolation / quarantine but not hospitalized.	(i) Shall be granted commuted leave of 20 days, if due and admissible, on production of his COVID positive report.(ii) If commuted leave is not available, Special Casual Leave (SCL) for 15 days shall be granted, followed by Earned Level (EL) or Half Pay Leave (HPL) of 5 days and, in case EL and HPL is not available, Extra Ordinary Leave (EOL) shall be given without insisting on production of medical certificate, and the period shall also be counted for qualifying service.
g.	Period of absence due to the official / officer is COVID positive and is in home isolation / quarantine / hospitalized.	(i) Shall be granted commuted leave/SCL/EL for a period upto  20 days starting from the time having tested COVID positive, if the period of home quarantine / discharge from hospital falls within 20 days, as per Sl. No. f above. (ii) In case of hospitalization beyond 20th day from testing COVID positive, commuted leave shall be granted, on production of documentary proof of hospitalization. (iii) If, however, after discharge from the hospital, the officer / official is required to remain at home for post-COVID recovery, leave of any kind due and admissible may be granted, with the approval of the concerned Competent authority, as per the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972, It is only when commuted leave is not available that SCL of 15 days or EL or EOL shall be considered.
h.	When a dependent family member of an official / officer is COVID positive, or parents whether dependent or not but living with the official / officer is COVID positive	(i) Shall be granted 15 days SCL on production of COVID-positive report of dependent family member/ parent. (ii) In case of active hospitalization of any of the family  member/parents even after 15 days of expiry of SCL, leave of any kind due and admissible beyond 15 days of SCL may be granted till their discharge from hospital. After discharge from hospital of the dependent family member / parents, if the official / officer wish to avail further leave, leave due and admissible shall be considered as per the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972, subject to functional requirements and sanction of leave by the Competent Authority. The Competent Authority is advised to take a liberal view in such cases and its decision in the matter shall be final.

3. These orders shall cover all the period of absence of an official / officer since imposition of first lockdown i.e. 24.03.2020 and shall be in force till further orders.

4. Past cases, wherever settled, shall be re-opened if the official / officer makes a request in writing for review, if such a review is beneficial to the official / officer. In case of deceased official / officer, leave sanctioning authority shall suo motu undertake the review if such a review is beneficial to the deceased official / officer.

5. Aforesaid letter no. X-20/42/2021-SPN-II dated 24.05.2021 stands revised to the extent stated herein above.

Yours faithfully,

(Muthuraman C)
Assistant Director General (SPN)

Source: Click here to view/download PDF

Pregnant Women now eligible for COVID-19 Vaccination

 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted the recommendations of NTAGI

Pregnant women may now register on Cowin or walk into the nearest COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC) to get themselves vaccinate

Based on recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) today approved the vaccination of pregnant women against COVID-19. The decision empowers pregnant women to make an informed choice on taking the COVID vaccination.  The decision has been communicated to all the States/ UTs to implement it under the ongoing National COVID Vaccination Program.

India’s National COVID Vaccination program incorporates recommendations of the foremost experts in the field of immunization, public health, disease control and information technology. Based on scientific and epidemiological evidence, the program gives priority to strengthening the country’s healthcare system by protecting the professionals, health and frontline workers, manning it, as well as protecting the most vulnerable population groups. Till date, all groups except pregnant women were eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Now, it is expanded to even pregnant women in the world’s largest Immunization drive.

Studies have shown that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may result in rapid deterioration of health of pregnant women and they are at an increased risk of severe diseases and it might affect fetus too. The matter has been examined by domain knowledge experts based on the evidence that indicate that pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women in case they get infected. Further, pregnant women with COVID-19 infection are at an increased risk for preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes including higher chances of neonatal morbidity. Additionally, the experts have also highlighted pre-existing co-morbidities, advanced maternal age, and high body mass Index as factors for severe COVID-19 in pregnancy.

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended vaccination for pregnant women. The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) too has unanimously recommended it.  Further, a national level Consultation on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women was also convened by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to build consensus on COVID Vaccination of pregnant women. The consultation unanimously welcomed the recommendation of NTAGI to vaccinate pregnant women. The consultation included professional bodies like FOGSI, representatives of State Governments, CSOs, NGOs, Development Partner agencies, technical experts etc.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted these recommendations and prepared an Operational Guideline for vaccination of pregnant women, Counselling kit for Medical Officers and FLWs, and IEC material for general public to equip the States/ UTs to carry out the vaccination of pregnant women. Pregnant woman, who opts for vaccination, can be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines available in the country any time during their pregnancy at the nearest Government or Private COVID-19 Vaccination Center (CVC) after registration on CoWIN or by walk-in registration at the nearest CVC.  The procedures and modalities of COVID-19 vaccination like registration, generation of certificates after vaccination etc. will remain the same as it is for any beneficiaries above 18 years of age under the National COVID Vaccination Program.

Posted On: 02 JUL 2021 by PIB Delhi

Payment of wages to outsourced persons of Ministries / Departments and other organizations of Government of India during 2na Wave of COVID-19' instructions regarding.

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Health Ministry issues Updated Advisory on COVID-19 testing

 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Health Ministry issues Updated Advisory on COVID-19 testing

Simplified Testing Procedure and ‘On-demand’ Testing for the first time

Posted On: 05 SEP 2020 11:35AM by PIB Delhi

There has been an unprecedented upsurge in India’s daily testing capacities. For two successive days more than 11.70 lakh tests have been conducted per day. A total of 4 crore and 77 lakh tests have been done so far across the country. There are now 1647 testing laboratories operational which cover all States/UTs. It is in this background that the Health Ministry has issued the updated Testing Advisory. 

On recommendations of the National Task Force on COVID-19, the new Advisory has further simplified the testing process and given more freedom and flexibilities to the State authorities to facilitate enhanced ease of testing for the people.

For the first time, along with more simplified modalities, the updated Guidelines provide for ‘On-demand’ testing in order to ensure higher levels of testing.

The Advisory elaborates on the choice of tests (in order of priority) in various given settings.

1. Routine surveillance in containment zones and screening at points of entry:

Choice of Test (in order of priority):

1. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) [as per attached algorithm]
2. RT-PCR or TrueNat or CBNAAT

1. All symptomatic (ILI symptoms) cases including health care workers and frontline workers.

2. All asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts (in family and workplace, elderly ≥ 65 years of age, immunocompromised, those with co-morbidities etc.) of a laboratory confirmed case to be tested once between day 5 and day 10 of coming into contact.

3. All asymptomatic high-risk individuals (elderly ≥ 65 years of age, those with co-morbidities etc.) in containment zones.

2. Routine surveillance in non-containment areas:

Choice of Test (in order of priority):

1. RT-PCR or TrueNat or CBNAAT
2. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)*

4. All symptomatic (ILI symptoms) individuals with history of international travel in the last 14 days.

5. All symptomatic (ILI symptoms) contacts of a laboratory confirmed case.

6. All symptomatic (ILI symptoms) health care workers / frontline workers involved in containment and mitigation activities.

7. All symptomatic ILI cases among returnees and migrants within 7 days of illness.

8. *All asymptomatic high-risk contacts(contacts in family and workplace, elderly ≥ 65 years of age, those with co-morbidities etc. [RAT is recommended as the first choice of test in order of priority]

3. In Hospital Settings:

Choice of Test (in order of priority):

1. RT-PCR or TrueNat or CBNAAT
2. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)

9. All patients of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).

10. All symptomatic (ILI symptoms) patients presenting in a healthcare setting. 11. Asymptomatic high-risk patients who are hospitalized or seeking immediate hospitalization such as immunocompromised individuals, patients diagnosed with malignant disease, transplant patients, patients with chronic co-morbidities, elderly ≥ 65 years.

12. Asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical / non-surgical invasive procedures (not to be tested more than once a week during hospital stay).

13. All pregnant women in/near labor who are hospitalized for delivery.

Points to be noted:

·          

o     

§   

·         No emergency procedure (including deliveries) should be delayed for lack of test. However, sample can be sent for testing if indicated as above (1-13), simultaneously.

·         Pregnant women should not be referred for a lack of testing facility. All arrangements should be made to collect and transfer samples to testing facilities.

·         Mothers who test positive for COVID-19 should be advised to wear a mask and undertake frequent handwashing while handling their baby for 14 days. They should also be advised on breast cleaning before feeding the neonate. These measures are likely to reduce transmission of COVID-19 to their babies.

14. All symptomatic neonates presenting with acute respiratory / sepsis like illness. (Features suggestive of acute respiratory illness in a neonate are respiratory distress or apnea with or without cough, with or without fever. Neonates may also manifest with only non-respiratory symptoms like fever, lethargy, poor feeding, seizures or diarrhea).

15. Patients presenting with atypical manifestations [stroke, encephalitis, hemoptysis, pulmonary embolism, acute coronary symptoms, Guillain Barre syndrome, Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome, progressive gastrointestinal symptoms, Kawasaki Disease (in pediatric age group)] based on the discretion of the treating physician.

A totally new section has been added in the Advisory on “Testing on Demand” which for all practical purposes does away with prescription by a registered medical practitioner although State governments have the freedom to decide on simplified modalities.

The new section reads thus-

4. Testing on demand (State Governments to decide simplified modalities):
1.  
1. All individuals undertaking travel to countries/Indian states mandating a negative COVID-19 test at point of entry.
2. All individuals who wish to get themselves tested.

Tracking and contact tracing mechanisms should be ensured by the testing laboratories by notifying the public health authorities.

Frequency of testing :

·         A single RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT/RAT positive test is to be considered confirmatory, without any repeat testing.

·         No re-testing is recommended prior to discharge from a COVID-19 facility after clinical recovery (please refer to MoHFW guidelines), including for transfer from a COVID area/ facility to a non-COVID area/ facility.

·         If symptoms develop following a negative RAT test, a repeat RAT or RT-PCR should be done (Algorithm for interpreting RAT is placed at Annexure 1).

Points to be noted:

·         WHO case definition for ILI: Individual presenting with acute respiratory infection with fever

≥ 38◦C AND cough with onset within the last 10 days.

·         WHO case definition for SARI: Individual presenting with acute respiratory infection with history of fever ≥ 38◦C AND cough with onset within the last 10 days AND requires hospitalization.

·         All healthcare workers and frontline workers coming in contact with suspect/confirmed COVID-19 patients should ensure use of appropriate PPE.

·         Home quarantine for 14 days is recommended for all individuals before undergoing elective surgery to minimise chances of infection before the procedure.

For all authentic & updated information on COVID-19 related technical issues, guidelines & advisories please regularly visit: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/ and @MoHFW_INDIA.

Technical queries related to COVID-19 may be sent to technicalquery.covid19@gov.in and other queries on ncov2019@gov.in and @CovidIndiaSeva .

In case of any queries on COVID-19, please call at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare helpline no.: +91-11-23978046 or 1075 (Toll-free). List of helpline numbers of States/UTs on COVID-19 is also available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/coronvavirushelplinenumber.pdf .

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MV/SJ

HFW/COVID Advisory/5September2020/1

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