New Delhi, Apr 24 (KNN) The government has written a letter to states denying the rumours that chief executive officer (CEO) will be penalized if employees test positive for the COVID-19 at factories.

In a letter, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Thursday said that the CEOs will not face legal action, including imprisonment. Factory premises will not be sealed or shut down either.

“I would like to clarify that there is no such clause in the consolidated revised guidelines and, therefore, there is no basis for such misplaced apprehensions," Bhalla said in his letter.

He also said that these should not be misused to harass the management of any manufacturing/commercial establishments.

The home secretary further clarified that the April 15 guidelines don’t “curtail any exemptions” already provided unless they fall in containment zones.

“Finally, it is emphasised that subject to compliance with SOP on social distancing, no fresh licence or statutory approval is required for resumption of permitted activities during lockdown,” he avowed.

Bhalla suggested states to take measures at all workplace to ensure social distancing and follow standard health protocols as notified by ministry of health and family welfare as covid-19 is a highly infectious disease.

The Home Secretary said the activities allowed under the consolidated revised guidelines, except in containment zones, have subsumed all the earlier activities that were permitted under the earlier guidelines issued on 24 March.

“Hence, it is clarified that the consolidated revised guidelines dated April 15 do not curtail the exemptions already provided earlier, unless the exempted activity falls within a containment zone. Therefore, no separate or fresh permissions are required from authorities for industries already permitted to operate prior to April 15, in areas falling outside containment zones," he added.