Bengal Election Results: EC Issues New Guidelines, Makes Negative Covid Report Mandatory For Entering Counting Hall

Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday stated that no candidates can be allowed contained in the counting corridor with out presenting a unfavorable RT-PCR or RAT report or a report confirming that the candidate has acquired each doses of the coronavirus illness (Covid-19) vaccine.

The EC in an order stated that the district election officer shall make preparations of RT-PCR/RAT take a look at for candidates and counting brokers earlier than the day of counting. 

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“No candidates or agents will be allowed inside the counting hall without undergoing RT-PCR/RAT test or without having 2 doses of vaccination against Covid-19 and will have to produce negative RT-PCR report or RAT report or vaccination reports within 48 hours of the start of counting. The DEO shall make arrangement of RT-PCR/RAT Test to candidates or counting agents before the day of counting,” it stated.

After contemplating the views and inputs from Chief Secretaries, Health Secretaries, and the Chief Electoral Officers of all ballot going States/UT, the Commission has directed all of the ballot going states/UT to stick to the next directions throughout the Counting strategy of the General Elections/Bye-Elections-

• DEO shall be the Nodal Officer at every Counting Centre to make sure adherence to the next the coVID-19 associated norms at Counting Centres, with the help of the Nodal Health Officer.

• Compliance Certificate in respect of Counting Centre that every one association has been made as per extant COVID pointers shall be obtained from the involved Health Authorities.

• No candidates/brokers can be allowed contained in the counting corridor with out present process RT-PCR/RAT take a look at or with out having 2 doses of vaccination in opposition to Covid-19 and should produce Negative RT-PCR report or RAT report or Vaccination experiences inside 48 hours of the beginning of counting. The DEO shall make preparations of RT-PCR/RAT Test to Candidates/Counting brokers earlier than the day of Counting. An inventory of counting brokers shall be made obtainable by the contesting candidates to the RO involved by 1700 hours on the day three days earlier than the date mounted for counting of votes. (para 15.12.2 of RO handbook) 

• No public gathering outdoors the counting venue shall be allowed throughout the strategy of counting. The Counting Hall must be sufficiently huge to take care of Social V. Distancing and will have correct air flow, home windows, exhaust fan, and so forth. as per the obtainable protocol of SDMA. 

• The counting facilities shall be disinfected earlier than, throughout, and after the counting

• Sealed outer bins of EVM/VVPAT shall even be sanitized/disinfected.

• Number of Counting tables to be allowed in a counting corridor as per the dimensions of all and holding in view security norms prescribed for Covid-19. Hence, counting of votes of a constituency could also be thought of at 3-4 halls by appointing further Assistant Returning Officers.

• At the entry of corridor/ room/ premises: Thermal Scanning of all individuals shall be carried out and Sanitizer, cleaning soap and water shall be made obtainable and ever particular person coming into in corridor shall sanitize his/her hand. 

• No one having any symptom of COVID- 19 like fever, Cold, and so forth. shall be allowed to enter the Counting Hall.

• Candidate might appoint/exchange the counting brokers within the case report is constructive.

• Social distancing shall be maintained inside Counting Hall, the seating association of Counting Personnel/Agents, and so forth. must be made as per extant COVID-19 pointers of NDMA/SDMA.

• There shall be a adequate variety of PPE Kit for Counting Agents / Candidates. The Counting Agents sitting association shall be made in such a approach that between 2 counting agents1 agent shall be in PPE.

• The following gadgets shall be supplied to each counting official and safety personnel along with different prescribed gadgets: Mask, Sanitizer, Face-Shield, Gloves

• For counting of Postal Ballots, an extra variety of AROs could also be deputed. If required, Postal Ballots might also be counted in a separate corridor beneath the supervision of the Returning Officer/Assistant Returning officer.

• As per the federal government pointers, there shall be correct association of disposal of COVID-related wastage viz Mask, Face Shield, PPE Kit gloves, and so forth. 

• There shall be a correct show of pointers “Does & Don’t” at handy locations together with the doorway gate and contained in the counting corridor. 

Yesterday, amid the surge in Covid-19 circumstances, the Election Commission has banned victory processions on or after relying on May 2.

The Election Commission had determined to curtail the timings of campaigns for the remaining phases and prolonged the silence interval to 72 hours for every of the phases.

The counting of votes for West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry will happen on May 2.