COVID-19 test must for medicos

Government medical faculties are gearing as much as reopen on December 7 with precautionary measures in place for COVID-19. While college students have been instructed to bear a COVID-19 test, preparations are being made to offer masks and guarantee bodily spacing on the campus.

R. Narayana Babu, Director of Medical Education, mentioned the federal government’s directions had been communicated to deans of all medical faculties within the State. They ought to take measures to run the universities and hostels, preserving in thoughts the COVID-19 norms.

“Wearing masks is a must for students. We have told institutions to provide masks to students. Strict handwashing should be followed in colleges and hostels. Institutions should provide hand sanitisers and handwash facilities in colleges and hostels.

Students will be screened for fever before entering the campus and classrooms. In case any student has symptoms of COVID-19, the candidate can immediately go for testing at the institution,” he mentioned.

Maintaining ample spacing in school rooms and hostels was not a problem in authorities medical faculties, he mentioned and added: “All colleges have additional space. For instance, if a college has 100 seats, it has a capacity to accommodate 100 more students keeping in mind Medical Council of India norms. We will utilise the additional space to ensure that there is sufficient physical distancing in classrooms and laboratories. A majority of hostel rooms are twin-sharing facilities.”

A school authority mentioned: “The DME has issued directions to frame our own set of guidelines based on the instructions received from the State government and the National Medical Commission (NMC).”

“Students should undergo COVID-19 testing prior to joining colleges. They can arrive on the day of reopening if they get the result by then. If not, they can come 24 to 48 hours earlier for a swab test on campus,” he added.

As per NMC pointers, the school would re-open in a phased method, beginning with remaining 12 months MBBS college students.

“We will be dividing the students into batches. We are making arrangements to screen for fever and to provide sanitiser and face masks before they enter the classrooms. We are planning to conduct virtual classes to sensitise students on COVID-19,” he added.

Another faculty authority mentioned it was not essential for all to come back on December 7 and college students might take two days extra, relying on the provision of transportation.

An MBBS pupil of a authorities medical faculty mentioned that they had acquired directions to bear COVID-19 testing earlier than becoming a member of faculty. “Many students are waiting for colleges to reopen, worrying that the curriculum may be affected. However, institutions should ensure physical distancing should be maintained in colleges. At least, government medical colleges should provide masks for all students,” he mentioned.