The face cover or mask should be worn at all times within the exam center by everyone, he stressed. (Representative image: Reuters)
Interested authorities should plan the exam schedule in a staggered manner to avoid overcrowding in any exam center on any given day, the SOP said.
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- Last update: September 11, 2020 3:30 pm IST
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The Union Health Ministry modified the SOP for testing during the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday, removing the provision that allowed symptomatic candidates to take the test in an isolated room. According to the updated document, a symptomatic applicant must be referred to the nearest health center and given the opportunity to take the test through other means or the educational institution must make the necessary arrangements to take the test on a certain date. later when the student is deemed fit. .
“However, if it is determined that a student presents symptoms, the permission or denial of the same, in such cases, will be granted in accordance with the policy already stated on the subject by the authorities in charge of conducting the examination,” said the Revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The development is important as previous guidelines, issued on September 2, stated that containment zone personnel and examinees will not be allowed to be physically present in test centers and other arrangements would be made for such students.
These students will have the opportunity to take the exam in other ways, or the universities will arrange to take the exam at a later date. In accordance with the POE, universities, educational institutions, authorities in charge of conducting examinations or examination centers will provide staff and students with adequate preparations to dispose of personal protective equipment, such as masks or hand sanitizers, soap, solution sodium hypochlorite, etc. the need.
“The examining officer and the examinees can also present a self-declaration on the state of health at the time of entering the exam center. Said self-declaration form can be circulated at the time of issuance of admission tickets,” the guidelines indicated. If any examining officer or the examinee does not meet the self-declaration criteria, they will not be allowed entry, the SOP stressed.
In addition to this, only asymptomatic staff and students will be allowed to enter the exam room, the SOP said, adding that wearing a face covering or a mask is mandatory. Designated authorities will also chalk the exam schedule in a staggered manner to avoid congestion at any exam center on any given day, the SOP stressed. The examination centers will not be allowed to operate in the containment areas, he added.
Meanwhile, for the paper and pencil tests, the SOP details that the supervisor will disinfect their hands before handing in the questionnaires or answer sheets and the examinees will also sanitize their hands before receiving these items. The collection and packaging of the answer sheets at each stage would require hand sanitization. The answer sheets should preferably be opened after 72 hours have elapsed from the collection of the works, the guidelines advise.
“The use of saliva / saliva to count and distribute sheets will not be allowed,” stated the SOP. The examination center should have a designated isolation room to isolate anyone exhibiting symptoms at the time of detection or during the examination, until medical advice can be sought.
Examination authorities will outline a clear policy in advance on allowing or not allowing symptomatic candidates to sit for exams, the SOP said.
(With PTI inputs)
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