A section of students from several schools across the city wrote the ICSE (Class X) examination that began on Monday wearing masks. At least one school said an examinee reported running a temperature the previous day.
Around 42,000 students from over 425 schools in West Bengal started writing the exams that began with English language (English paper I).
The exams will continue till March 29.
Doctors said wearing masks and using sanitisers, protocols during the pandemic, are recommended to try and reduce the spread of viral infection.
“Since there is an ongoing viral outbreak, it is advisable to follow the bare minimum protocols like wearing masks and using hand sanitisers. This will help reduce the spread,” said Chandramouli Bhattacharya, infectious disease expert.
Across several schools, an advisory asked students to wear masks.
About 10 to 50 per cent students wore masks for the exam on Monday.
“We have advised students who show any sign of infection like fever, cold and cough that they should wear masks. With the current spurt of infection, parents, too, want their children to be safe because they cannot risk getting sick during the board exams,” said Terence Ireland, principal, St James’ School.
In one school, an examinee reported running high temperature on Sunday.
“The examinee had a fever for three days and came with a doctor’s certificate. We allowed the parents to wait in the school while the exam was on,” said the principal.
The ISC (Class XII), CBSE Class X and XII and Madhyamik exams are underway, too.