The University Grants Commission has asked college and university teachers to “be alert towards any student” with signs of fever, cough and difficulty in breathing and “should immediately have the student tested”.

The commission has added: “Till advised by the treating doctor, the student should not join the campus”.

The UGC has entrusted teachers with the responsibility in a detailed advisory issued on March 5, the copies of which have been sent to all colleges and universities to “reduce the transmission of the novel coronavirus”.

The vice-chancellor of a university in Bengal said the UGC had suggested that institutes monitor the health status of the students and others “on a regular basis”.

The advisory mentions that if there are suspected cases in hostels, “the authorised local medical authority should be called for examination”.

“We will soon convene a meeting with the teachers and officials to alert them on the dos and don’ts, as advised. The teachers will be told to remain alert about the students. The hostel superintendents and dean of students will also be engaged,” a VC said.

The advisory issued by UGC secretary Rajnish Jain states that the “frequently touched surfaces” such as doorknobs, switches, desks and railings should be disinfected.

“The UGC has advised that the frequented spots of the universities and the colleges should be provided with alcohol-based cleaners/sanitisers,” said an official of a university.

Calcutta University had on March 3 issued an advisory for the teachers and students who had gone or would go abroad for assignments or returned from abroad recently.

The advisory, issued by registrar Debasish Das, directed the teachers, students, guest students and research scholars to report to the government hospitals and follow the quarantine rules announced by the government if they suffer from symptoms associated with the coronavirus after arriving from abroad.

An official of the state higher education department said: “The advisory issued by the UGC is much wider and specific in scope. We would want the universities, including CU, to adhere to what has been advised by UGC.”

The advisory says “foot-operated pedal bins lined with plastic bags” should be provided in all classrooms and restrooms. “Ensure availability of soap and water in restrooms,” the advisory states.

The UGC has also entrusted the universities and colleges with the responsibility of advising teachers and students about “hand and respiratory hygiene”.

Everyone has been advised to wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitisers “even when the hands are visibly clean”.

As for respiratory hygiene, one should cover his or her mouth with a tissue paper or handkerchief, or shirt sleeves if there are no tissues, during coughing or sneezing.

One must also wash their hands after sneezing or coughing.

“Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth. Everybody should throw away used tissues into a bin and wash their hands after contact with coughing/sneezing,” reads the UGC advisory, which has been drafted in consultation with the family welfare department of the central government and the human resource development ministry.

Another VC said the UGC had advised that any student/ staff with travel history “to any COVID 19 (coronavirus)-affected country or in contact with such persons in last 28 days, should be monitored and home quarantined for 14 days”.

The VCs have been asked to avoid large gatherings on the campus.