NEW DELHI: All Central government ministries and departments have been asked to install thermal scanners and mandatorily place hand sanitisers at the entrance to government buildings in order to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).As part of precautionary measures shared by the department of personnel and training (DoPT) in an office memorandum circulated to all Central ministries and departments on Tuesday, entry of visitors in the office complex is to be discouraged to the maximum extent. “Routine issue of visitors/temporary passes should be suspended with immediate effect. Only those visitors who have proper permission of the officer who they want to meet, should be allowed after being properly screened,” said DoPT Central government departments have been asked to preferably hold meetings through video-conferencing, and minimise or reschedule meetings involving a large number of people. Non-essential travel is sought to be avoided. To minimise contact, the DoPT has asked essential correspondence to be undertaken via official email rather than physically sending files and documents to other offices. Even dak delivery and receipt must be facilitated at the entry point itself as far as possible, it said.The DoPT office memorandum asked all Central government employees found with flu-like symptoms to be advised proper treatment and quarantine. It further advised all employees who are at higher risk i.e. older employees, pregnant employees and employees who have underlying medical conditions, to take extra precautions. “The ministries/departments may take care not to expose such employees to any front-line work requiring direct contact with the public,” it stated.All officials have been asked to take care of own health and look out for respiratory symptoms/fever and, if feeling unwell, they are advised to leave the workplace immediately after informing their reporting officers. “They should observe home-quarantine,” DoPT said and advised leave sanctioning authorities to sanction leave whenever any request is made for self-quarantine as a precautionary measure.Apart from ordering the closing of all gyms, recreation centres and creches in government buildings, the DoPT asked proper cleaning to be ensured along with frequent sanitisation of the workplace, particularly the frequently touched surfaces. It has further asked for ensuring regular supply of hand sanitizer, soap and running water in the washrooms.A list of do’s and don'ts recommended containing the spread of COVID-19 was also shared.