The Centre  allowed 50 per cent of its staff below the level of under secretary to work from home (WFH) as the government is assessing how best to respond to a rapid rise in new Covid-19 cases from the fast-spreading Omicron variant. 

Persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees have been exempted from attending the offices, as per a Personnel Ministry order.

Further, the instructions clearly mentioned that central government officers and employees will have to follow staggered timing to avoid overcrowding in the offices.

Physical attendance of government employees below the level of under-secretary restricted to 50 per cent and the remaining employees will have to work from home.

All the officers and employees residing in Covid containment zones have also been exempted from coming to office till containment zones are de-notified, it mentioned in the order issued to all central government departments.

More importantly, the government has suspended marking of biometric attendance for all its staff till January 31, as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of viral infections.

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said the decision has been taken in the interest of safety and health of the government employees.

“Keeping in view the rise in #COVID cases in the last few days, the BIOMETRIC ATTENDANCE for govt officials and employees is being suspended with immediate effect, till further orders. Under leadership of PM Sh @NarendraModi, this decision has been taken in the interest of safety and health of the govt employees,” Singh tweeted.

All employees, however, are required to mark their attendance in attendance registers to be maintained manually, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry stated.

According to the Union Ministry of Health on Monday, the Omicron tally in the country has reached 1,700, of which 639 have recovered or been discharged. Maharashtra topped the chart with 510 Omicron cases, followed by Delhi with 351 cases.