Offices in the Madhya Pradesh Raj Bhavan have been closed down and employees’ residential area on the campus has been turned into containment zone after seven employees and their family members tested positive for COVID-19.
Lal Kothi – the personal residential and office area of the governor Lalji Tandon – has been demarcated as inner zone and severe restrictions imposed over movement of outsiders there. Only healthy employees, who have tested negative for COVID-19 have been allowed in this area. These employees will stay within the inner zone and are undergoing regular health check-up and follow standard safety and prevention protocol like use of mask, gloves, sanitisers and others, the principal secretary to governor, Manohar Dubey said in a press statement.
Those visitors wanting to meet the governor will have to follow the safety protocols like maintaining two metre distance, using mask and shoe covers, undergoing personal sanitisation, thermal scanning and so on.
The development brings cloud over the speculated expansion of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet in the state as the oath taking ceremony happens on the Raj Bhavan campus. There are speculations that the cabinet expansion will come by the end of the month or early in June, but now this may entail procedural glitch due to restrictions in the Raj Bhavan.
Four days ago, a youth – son of a Raj Bhavan employee – had tested positive. Consequently, six more employees and kin tested positive in results that came in on Wednesday. Restrictions were immediately imposed and standard operating procedure ensured for entire Raj Bhavan campus and especially the employees’ residential area, which is now a containment zone.
The statement by the principal secretary to governor mentioned that daily high-level review of the safety protocols will be undertaken and movement of outsiders and health of employees will be strictly monitored. All employees and officers will undergo regular health check-up. They have been asked to work from home and will come to the campus only on call.
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Complete prohibition has been imposed on movement of employees outside the campus for three days, except for medical emergency. Gate number 1 and 3 of the Raj Bhavan have been sealed and all goods and things entering from the available gate number 2 will be completely sanitised.
Barricades have been put up and guards deployed around the containment area and availability of Arogya Setu app on the cell phones of those visitors seeking entry to the Raj Bhavan has been made mandatory. Visitors will also undergo thermal scanning at the Raj Bhavan entry gate and the body temperature record of those entering the inner zone will be maintained.
Outside workers engaged in essential services will be allowed in the campus but will have to follow strict safety protocols. Any other person will have to obtain permission from competent authority to enter the campus.
