The President’s Office has publicized guidelines under which state offices and government institutions will be allowed to officially reopen on Sunday.

The 19th directive issued by the President’s Office this year highlights that state institutions and government offices are urged to abide by the guidelines established by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) as a precaution against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, in order to control further spread of the virus.

Further, government offices in islands where a community spread has been confirmed, are to take extra caution to follow guidelines. The respective ministers and heads of institutions will be responsible to ensure that a minimum number of employees attend the workplace at the same shift.

As such, offices and institutions have been urged to arrange for employees who are able to work from home to do so, as well as separate staff into teams in a way that requires distinct teams to attend the workplace on alternate days or shifts. They are to be provided alternate days by distinguishing the different services that within the office mandate.

Staff are encouraged complete their work within the official working hours and avoid staying in the workplace after 2pm, unless duties are based on shifts. If the situation calls for the offices or institutions to remain open past working hours, they have been given until 4pm to remain open, at the latest.

Government institutions are required to identify which services may be provided online, in order to reduce the chances of physical interactions with the public and implement as well as regularize policies.

Offices are required to implement hygienic practices and ensure social distancing under the measures set forth by the Civil Service Commission after consulting with HPA.

Printing costs must also be reduced during these times, offices have been urged to digitalize work and implement cost-cutting measures to reduce the strain on the national budget.

This comes as part of efforts to address the issue of necessary expense-cuts needed to ease the economic strain caused by Covid-19.

A devastating Covid-19 peak confirmed as the fourth Covid-19 wave in the island nation provoked strengthened precautionary measures nationwide in early May. However, authorities have been introduced eases over the course of the past few weeks, the latest coming into effect on Thursday.