The British Council announced on Tuesday that it will reopen its IELTS testing centres in Lebanon starting June 1.

This comes on the back of local health authority and government guidance and will see the testing centres adhere to a number health and safety precautions to protect both staff and candidates.

Test takers and staff may not attend the test if they are under a quarantine, self-quarantine, stay-at-home or medical surveillance order, as specified by the Lebanese government. They will also not be able to attend if they have a high temperature, persistent cough, difficulty breathing or other flu-like symptoms.

Precautionary measures in place include temperature screening at the test venue, ensuring staff and test takers always stay two metres apart, and the use of face masks, which will be provided at the testing venue.

Speaking ahead of the reopening, Director David Knox, British Council Lebanon said: "Our top priority is the health and safety of both our candidates and staff, and we've adjusted our operations in Lebanon to meet the recommended government guidelines. 

"We have carried out an intensive risk assessment and have considered how social distancing measures can be adhered to, ensuring there is additional cleaning and hygiene facilities in place to minimise the risk of contamination. These precautions will be continuously kept under review and we will remain vigilant to the developing coronavirus situation. 

"This has been a challenging time for many of our IELTS candidates and we look forward to again being part of their learning journey."