Assam education department issues SOP for reopening of hostels from February 1

GUWAHATI: The Education department has issued a revised SOP (standard operating procedure) for reopening of hostels for all students from primary to university levels from February 1.

According to the fresh SOP, before reopening hostels, RAT (Rapid Antigen Tests) shall have to be done in respect of all hostel superintendants, wardens, supervising officers, cooks, helpers including cleaners who are entrusted with the task of cleaning and maintaining cleanliness of the hostels.

The kitchens, toilets, dining rooms and dormitories needs to be properly sanitized.

The standard operating procedure (SOP) has made it mandatory for boarders to take consent of their parents before entering the hostels. However, after joining in hostel, the attendance of the students has to be regularly monitored.

Students will be accommodated in the dormitory in alternate beds. The hostel authorities can erect temporary partitions to separate inmates/boarders, if required and feasible adequate distance between beds may be ensured.

The SOP stated that hostel should be out of bound for all persons except essential staff with known and acceptable health status.

Besides this, medical team should inspect kitchen and mess at least once a week to ensure maintenance of hygiene. In case of detection of a suspected case of COVID-19, a room beforehand for isolation with facilities for bed and toilet etc should be earmarked.

For a suspect or a case detected in hostel, the student/staff shall not be sent back to his/her home as it may lead to spread of the disease. The infected persons should be isolated and health officials should be informed for suitable follow-up action.

Moreover, methods of safe distribution can be employed by the hostels which may include staggered distribution. Food may be provided in multiple batches, the SOP stated.

"The ventilation system including windows, exhaust fans etc wherever required, should be designed and constructed so that air does not flow from contaminated areas to clean areas," the SOP added.

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