CHENNAI: After
IIT-Madras reported several
Covid-19 cases , universities and
colleges in Chennai took stock of the
precautionary measures put in place by them. While some have screened their students for Covid-19 symptoms, others are likely to make a 14-day quarantine mandatory for students coming from outside the city.
Anna University's two campuses -- College of Engineering, Guindy, and Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet – house more than 1,200 students after the state government allowed reopening for final year UG students last week.
"We have tested one student, who had fever, and isolated the entire block. The Covid test results will be available tomorrow," said S Iniyan, dean, College of Engineering, Guindy.
CEG administration will organise a camp to test the students with symptoms. Hostel wardens gave counselling to the students on Monday insisting on the need to wear masks and sanitizing hands. The hostels on CEG and MIT campuses housing one student per hostel room.
N Mathivanan, registrar (incharge) of Madras University, said the university had screened the students for Covid-19 symptoms after receiving information about the
Covid cluster at IIT Madras.
"We do not have any student with Covid symptoms at our hostels. The number of students staying in hostels are also less with only research scholars returned to campuses. We are closely monitoring the situation," he said.
SRM Institute of Science and Technology has opened the campus for medical, dental students and research scholars recently.
"Around 500 students are staying on the campus. Fortunately, there are no Covid cases on our campus. The reopening is expected only in January when next semester commences," said Sandeep Sancheti, vice-chancellor of SRMIST.
The institute has reassessed the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in light of Covid cluster at IIT-Madras.
"We thought of conducting random Covid tests to our students. Students also need to bring Covid test report taken in the last 72 hours to enter the campus. We will follow quarantine for the people coming from outside," he added.
Except a few colleges, most of the engineering and arts and science colleges decided to reopen their campuses for final year students from next semester. So, they have fewer or no students on their campuses.