Government issues SOP for conducting examination amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Union Health Ministry has issued the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the JEE and NEET examination to check the spread of coronavirus among the participants. The ministry in its SOP has allowed anybody with symptoms to give his or her examinations while sitting in a separate isolation room.

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of Government's decision of conducting JEE, NEET and other examinations, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday has issued standard operating procedure (SOP) which needs to be strictly followed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The SOP has allowed anybody with symptoms to give his or her examinations while sitting in a separate isolation room.

The Health Ministry in its SOP also asked the universities, educational institutions, examination conducting authorities, examination centres for proper planning of examinations, transportation to and from the examination centres, proper screening in entry and exit points among others.

It has asked the authorities to take extra precautions in case a person is found ill.

"Place the ill person in a room or area where they are isolated from others. The examinees exhibiting symptoms and willing to give the examinations may be allowed to take the examination by shifting the candidate to a separate isolation room," the SOP in possession of ETV Bharat said.

The ministry further said that a risk assessment shall be undertaken by the designated public health authority and accordingly further action be initiated regarding the management of the case, his or her contacts and need for disinfection.

The ministry in its SOP further said that seating arrangement in the examination hall to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.

It said that all staff that is at high risk (older employee, pregnant employees and employees who have underlying medical examination) shall not be deployed for invigilation/conduct of examinations.

Meanwhile, total recovery from Covid19 disease in India on Wednesday crossed 29 lakh mark with more than 60,000 getting recovered continuously for last six days.

10 lakh recoveries have been recorded in only 17 days in comparison to preceding 10 lakh recoveries which were recorded in 22 days.

Officials said that since May there has been a 58 times hike in the number of patients. Interestingly, 12 states including Daman & Diu, Delhi, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal among others have reported a recovery rate more than the national average.

With the recovery of 60,029 cases in the last 24 hours, India recovery rate crossed 76.98 percent.

The number of recovered cases has overtaken active cases by more than 21 lakh.

With 1.79 percent, India continues to report one of the lowest COVID case fatality rates when compared to the global average of 3.3 percent. India till date has recorded 66,333 COVID-19 deaths.

The death per million population in India is one of the lowest in the world. While the global average is 110 deaths per million population, India is reporting 48 deaths per million population. The fatality figure of Brazil and the US is 12 and 13 times higher.

Health Ministry said that collaborative efforts of the centre and states have resulted in the strengthening of the Health facilities across the country. 1578 dedicated Covid hospitals are providing quality medical care, the Health Ministry said.