Stay safe – City schools alert students about seasonal infections | Kolkata News

Kolkata: Several city schools have alerted students about seasonal infections and asked them to stay safe since selection tests and board practical examinations are lined up from this week onwards.
Most schools affiliated to the state boards, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) and West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (HS Council), are getting ready to start selection tests from this week while some schools have already started tests from last week.Schools affiliated to the Council For the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have selection tests and practical examinations in December-January.
Viral infection during this period of change in seasons is a major concern for students.
Jodhpur Park Boys’ School’s selection tests for classes X and XII started last week. Seating has been arranged keeping a safe distance between kids. Headmaster Amit Sen Majumder said, “We have allotted only 20 students to each classroom since we have a capacity of 50. We made this arrangement to keep a safe distance between any two students to avoid any sort of transmission through coughs and sneezes.”
Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School principal Indrani Mitra said, “Selection tests will start from next week. So, keeping the viral season in mind, we told students to stay as safe as they can from cough-and-cold. If they feel unwell, we have asked them not to take the exam.”
St Augustine’s Day School, Shyamnagar, has issued a written advisory for students taking selection tests in December while Rammohan Mission School has decided to issue an advisory next week along with the schedule of the exams.
“Board students will be alerted to be safe from infections as exam season is going to start from December and health comes first. As a precautionary measure, they will be asked to wear light woollen clothes to avoid catching a cold. They will also be asked to stay away from cold drinks and ice-cream,” said Sujoy Biswas, principal of Rammohan Mission School.
Taki House’s selection tests are starting from Tuesday and students have been asked to take precautionary measures against cough, cold and fever. “At our morning assembly, we alerted students to be conscious about seasonal changes and told them not to neglect prolonged cough-and-cold infections or fever. Junior- and middle-school students have been asked to wear full-sleeved clothes and full pants,” said Swagata Basak, Taki House School headmistress.
“Seasonal viruses are transmitted through sneezes and cough droplets, which can travel up to six feet. So, public places and transport usually help to spread them. It is better to use handkerchiefs and avoid touching outdoor objects with bare hands,” said internal medicine consultant Arindam Biswas.