Turkish Health Ministry puts forward detailed prevention guidelines for businesses in 11 sectors

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As the government gradually lifts social distancing restrictions, Turkey's Health Ministry put forward a detailed set of COVID-19 prevention guidelines for businesses across 11 different sectors on May 26. 

The 103-page report offers guidelines for business owners, staff and customers across 11 different sectors. 

The report starts off with precautions recommended to staff, business owners and customers in shopping malls, which re-opened on May 11. 

It recommended employees and workers in all sectors to use personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer. In addition, the report mandated stores in malls to decide themselves whether and how to allow in customers. 

The guideline encouraged all workers across sectors to thoroughly use masks, gloves and other personal equipment. 

The report mandated employers in all sectors to send workers home if they reported a cough, a fever or shortness of breath. 

It also encouraged businesses to put up signs explaining the guidelines for their store and discouraging crowding inside the space. 

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Individual space and safety distance

The guidelines mandated an individual distancing space of eight square meters per person in stores inside shopping malls.

As an example, in a store of 32 square meters with two individuals, only two customers would be admissible to the store as to ensure a safe distancing space. 

As for stores outside of malls, the guideline mandated an individual distancing space of half that in malls, or four square meters.

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Guidelines for mall employees, management

In addition, the report forbade the use of ultraviolet light on clothing items tried on by customers, as the method can be harmful to human health, though it is widely believed to kill viruses. 

With regards to mall employees, the report recommended a shift schedule to protect their health and minimize the number of employees working simultaneously. 

The report mandated social distancing measures for mall employees during their shifts, as well as during breaks and meals.

Lastly, the report discouraged mass event organizations in malls, as well as the use of prayer rooms, baby chairs and smoking areas.

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Guidelines for workplaces with beds

The report offered guidelines for workplaces where employees also lodge, including mines and construction sites.

It recommended management executives in both sectors to provide sufficient personal protective equipment and sanitary products to their employees. 

The guideline also mandated management executives in the mining or construction sectors to designate a COVID-19 "go-to person,” preferably a healthcare professional.

In the case where healthcare professionals aren’t available, business owners or someone else should be to be trained about the illness as to ensure the necessary precautions are implemented in the workplace. 

The guideline further mandated the COVID-19 “go-to person” to track all employees to check for fevers, coughs or shortness of breath.

Moreover, it mandated managements to disinfect any transportation the workers may use, as well as dormitories and common areas. Management was also asked to temporarily suspend the use of security systems that require physical contact like fingerprint scanners.

The report encouraged management executives to temporarily suspend workers suffering from such health issues as heart disease, blood pressure or lungs, as well as diabetes patients. 

It recommended workers who fall under these conditions to work remotely, or from home, though physical labor in mining or construction is hardly possible from a distance.   

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