Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on preventive measures to be taken during examinations to contain coronavirus spread on September 02, 2020 on their official website.
Despite protests from some about the postponement of the examination, the conducting authority keeping in mind that it has been already been postponed twice started conducting JEE Mains 2020 from September 01, 2020. NEET 2020 is set to be held on September 13, 2020.
Also Read: JEE Main 2020: Day 3 Commences, Paper Analysis for B.Tech/B.E Papers on Sept 3
The Ministry said that physical distances of at least 6 feet should be observed as far as possible. "Respiratory etiquette to be strictly observed, which includes the strict procedure of covering one's mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing with tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing of used tissues properly," directed the Health Ministry's SOPs.
Installation and use of the Aarogya Setu App has been recommended to everyone, as far as possible. Spitting is also strictly forbidden. Only those examination centres which are outside the containment zone shall be allowed to operate.
Staff/examinees from containment areas shall not be allowed in the examination center. Such applicants shall be provided with the opportunity to carry out the test through other means or the university/educational institution shall arrange for those students to take the test at a later date.
Also Read: Student Reaction after JEE Main 2020 B.E/ B.Tech Paper Day 2 (Morning Shift)
It should also be noted that students should be provided with prior information about what to bring to the center, which includes exam-specific documentation (Admit card, ID card, etc.), face mask, water bottle, hand sanitizer, etc. Both staff and candidates must be allowed to enter only if they use face cover/masks. The face cover/mask must be worn by all at all times within the examination centre.
Only asymptomatic staff and students are allowed inside the examination hall. Bags/books/mobiles should not be permitted in the examination centre.
It is necessary to remember that exams will be taken to the registration room in batches so as to ensure appropriate physical distancing requirements for record verification and registration of attendance. They will then be escorted to the allotted examination hall in batches.
Frisking of the aspirants shall be carried out, if necessary, only after thermal screening. In addition to gloves, staff engaged in frisking shall wear triple-layer medical masks. Proper hand hygiene shall be practised by such workers any time they change their gloves.
Also Read: JEE Main 2020: Paper Analysis for B.E/B.Tech on Sept 2 Afternoon Shift
The Ministry specified that the examination centre should have a dedicated isolation room for the isolation of any person found to be symptomatic at the time of screening or during examination, until such time as medical advice may be requested.
The Review of Conducting Authorities shall outline a specific strategy for enabling symptomatic applicants to undergo examinations in advance. If any transport is arranged by educational institutions conducting exams, proper sanitization of buses/other transport vehicles shall be ensured.
In the normal course, a symptomatic candidate should be referred to the nearest health centre and given the opportunity to carry out the test by other means, or the university / educational institution should arrange for the test to be carried out at a later date when the student has been declared eligible.
However, if a student is found to be symptomatic and insists on the test, he or she may be permitted to take the test by transferring the applicant to a separate insulation space. The permission in such cases shall be granted as per the policy already enunciated on the issue by the Examination Conducting Authorities, the Health Ministry said.
Click here to Download Full Guidelines Released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
SOP for Movement Within the Examination Center, seating Arrangement, Conduct of Examination
- The number of people in the elevators shall be reduced and the physical distance standards shall be properly maintained.
- The supply of wheelchairs, if necessary, should be ensured and disinfected on a regular basis.
- In the case of a PwD candidate who has a scribe, both the candidate and the scribe must wear masks and sit with sufficient physical space.
- Institutions can make contact with less processes such as OR code, online forms, digital signatures for inspection.
- Reasonable arrangements for healthy drinking water (preferably with disposable cups/glasses) shall be made in the examination hall.
- Seating arrangements to be made in the examination hall in such a way that sufficient social distinctions are preserved.
- In the case of pen & paper based exams, the invigilator would sanitise his hands before the distribution of question papers/answer sheets. The examiners would also sanitise their hands before obtaining such papers and hand them over to the supervisors. The selection and packing of the response sheets will entail the sanitization of the hands at each point. The answer sheets will hopefully be opened after 72 hours of post-collection.
- The use of spit/saliva for counting/distributing sheets is not permitted.
- Sharing of personal belongings or stationery shall not be permitted.
- For an online / computer-based test, the devices must be disinfected with alcohol wipes before and after the analysis is carried out.
- The record of all test functionaries/examinations shall be preserved in the framework for future reference and traceability.
- In the case of air conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed, which emphasise that
- The temperature setting of all air conditioning systems should be between 24-30 ° C;
- The relative humidity should be between 40 and 70%,
- Re-circulation of air to be avoided to the extent possible;
- The intake of fresh air should be as high as possible and (v) cross ventilation should be sufficient.
Also Read: JEE Main 2020: Only 56% B.Arch, B.Plan Candidates in Lucknow Braved COVID Blues on Day 1
SOP in Case of Suspected Infected Person during the conduct of examination
- Place the ill person in a room or area where they are isolated from others.
- The person will remain isolated while wearing a mask/face cover until such time he/she is examined by a doctor.
- The examinees exhibiting symptoms and willing to give the examination may be allowed to take the examination by shifting the candidate to a separate isolation room.
- If symptoms deteriorate, inform the nearest medical facility (hospital/clinic) or call the state or district helpline.
- A risk assessment shall be undertaken by the designated public health authority (district RRT/treating physician) and accordingly further action be initiated regarding the management of the case, his/her contacts and need for disinfection.
- Disinfection of the premises to be taken up if the person is found positive.
