Bengal govt issues advisory on reopening colleges and varsities

The state government on Thursday evening issued an advisory for colleges and universities, which specified how to conduct physical classes for undergraduate, postgraduate and research scholars from November 16 maintaining Covid protocols.

Institutions

• To train teachers and staff on Covid safety norms
• Students should be allowed on campus only after thermal scanning, sanitising hands and wearing masks
• Symptomatic people should not be allowed on campus
• Isolation and quarantine facilities should there be on campus or tie-ups may be made in advance with government hospitals
• Policy for restricting outsiders on campus
• Clean and hygienic conditions to be maintained
• Proper signage prominently displayed to remind people to maintain distance
• Details of the institution’s Covid cell to be prominently displayed with emergency and helpline numbers
• Multiple sanitisation points on campus
• Conditions of entry for visitors should be displayed at the entry points

Entry, exit

• Staggered timings for entry and exit to and from campus with limited strengths for different programmes
• Screening of students, fa-culty and staff at all entry points

Classrooms

• Mandatory regular cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces
• Adequate supply of water in toilets and for hand-washing
• Dustbins must be cleaned and covered properly

Hostels

• No crowding in hostel areas. Students should be called in phases
• Thermal screening of residents
• Limited students in common areas
• Meals should be served in small batches. Staff who handle food should wear masks and sanitise hands

Health monitoring

• Institutions should regularly monitor the health of students, faculty and staff
• Faculty, staff, students should self-disclose if any of their family members have Covid

Containment

• If a staff or faculty member or a student is detected with Covid, the person should be isolated immediately
• Close contacts should be quarantined and symptomatic persons should be tested

Teachers, students

The institution head shall train teachers in protocol. Teachers to be role models to students in maintaining protocol. Students to wear masks, avoid accessories

Sensitisation

• Awareness programmes may be launched. Students should be encouraged to share their feelings with friends, teachers to improve mental health