Desk Report: The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has given four conditions or suggestions for starting direct classes in the second and fifth or final year of MBBS and BDS courses for medical students.
The conditions were announced in a press release signed by committee chairman Prof Mohammad Sahidullah on Friday (August 13th).
The Health Department of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sent a letter seeking the opinion of the National Technical Advisory Committee on the introduction of second year and fifth and final year classes in MBBS and BDS courses from August 21 or any other date. According to the letter, these students have already been given two doses of vaccine.
All the members of the committee discussed the matter in detail. Initially, they voted in favor of starting classes this year, subject to compliance with hygiene rules. At the same time, the committee has asked to comply with the following issues.
1. All students should be trained on infection prevention and control before the start of the class.
2. Proper hygiene should be followed including proper mask reading and ensuring social distance.
3. Students in the hospital ward class must ensure proper use of safety equipment. In addition, students need to be monitored for infection.
4. Infected students should be treated and students who come in contact with them should be provided with 14 days quarantine.
The notice further said that different quality masks are available in the market. However, the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 said that steps should be taken by the Department of Drug Administration to ensure proper production and sale of three-layer masks.
