INZ: Epidemiological recommendations for safe conduct of exams at universities

The Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica (INZ) has, based on the current epidemiological situation and new recommendations from the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters, developed procedures for the start of work and the conduct of exams at universities.

The procedures, described in detail in a document with attachments, illustrations, and necessary questionnaires/documents, are available to all similar institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina via the Institute's website inz.ba, and have been officially sent to the University of Zenica.

All necessary instructions

- The safety improvement guide is intended for university employees, as well as students. According to announcements from universities, exams will be conducted in person, not online like classes. Therefore, it is of invaluable importance to organize the way of entering and staying in the university premises in such a way that the coronavirus Covid-19 does not penetrate the university, says doc. dr. Nino Hasanica from the Crisis Staff for Health and Educational Activities of the Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica (INZ).

The extensive document discusses the necessary biosafety measures, the need to form an operational Crisis Team, the identification of risk points in the university/faculty premises, specific segments of the administration's strategic actions, and the general organization of work in such an institution during a pandemic or epidemic, according to INZ.

The document details the ways of organizing work, entry restrictions, creation and placement of hand/foot disinfection barriers, entry procedures, identification of risky moments, actions in case of illness, temperature measurement, as well as the organization of work within the university, movement and movement restrictions, entry of third parties...

- One of the important steps are the contact lists of each employee, which, in case of someone falling ill, would significantly help in identifying possible infections, points out Hasanica.

Thus, recommendations are briefly given on conducting written and oral exams, entering premises, as well as reporting unjustified and suspicious absences. INZ has also created a series of tables, graphics, and templates that can be used by any faculty or university.

All sets of necessary protection documents online

INZ has previously prepared and published free editions of the Biosafety Guide for Production Facilities of Companies in BiH, Recommendations for Guests and Staff in Catering Establishments, instructions on potential dangers of accidental physical distancing, recommendations for pensioners regarding leaving isolation, advice for introducing healthy lifestyles, three sets of recommendations for housing communities and residents of collective and individual residential buildings, as well as information on eliminating stress during the pandemic, advice for storing and disposing of waste from isolated persons, and a Guide for organizing work in preschool institutions.

On the Institute's website inz.ba, citizens can also find advice for employees and management of companies and institutions, food storage in pandemic conditions, disinfection, disinsection, and deratization measures as prevention, nutritional advice during isolation, recommendations for students, pregnant women and chronically ill people, and those caring for people with dementia, recommendations on the importance of physical activity and quitting smoking during the pandemic, advice for parents and children on washing hands and teeth during the pandemic, as well as recommendations for the burial/funeral of a person who died with confirmed Covid-19 virus.

- Panic is not a solution, caution is, therefore, it is necessary for every citizen to inform themselves and acquire the necessary knowledge to protect themselves and others in public spaces, say INZ.