Monday, Dec 14 2020 | Time 14:43 Hrs(IST)
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States » SouthPosted at: Dec 14 2020 11:43AM


IIT-Madras emerges COVID-19 hotspot, 71 test positive

Chennai, Dec 14 (UNI) The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras
(IIT-M) campus has emerged as the new COVID-19 hotspot with
71 people, including 66 students, testing positive for the virus in
the last few days, prompting the management to shut down all
the departments.
The IIT-M Management on Monday announced that all the students
in the campus would be subjected to coronavirus tests and if any of
them tested positive, they would be quarantined.
A circular issued by the institute said all the departments, centres and
libraries were closed with immediate effect till further notice.
It said all faculty members, project staff members and research scholars
were advised to work from home, while students, scholars and project
staff members staying on the campus were asked to confine themselves
to their hostel rooms.
The IIT-M said they had been functioning with only 10 per cent
students in the hostels, and as soon as a spurt in symptomatic
cases was reported, they had arranged for all students in the
hostels to be tested after consulting the civic authorities.
Following the development, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan
advised all all the district Collectors and the Greater Chennai
Corporation Commissioner to keep tab on educational institutions
and hostels which were re-opened recently after a gap of more
than eight months.
He also said those with remote symptoms or those returning from
other States should be strictly monitored, tested and isolated
if they tested positive, he said.
All those who tested positive at IIT-M were stable and being
treated at the Government Corona Hospital at Guindy, the
Health Secretary told reporters today after reviewing the
situation in the campus.
He said though sporadic cases were reported at IIT-M since
December one, there has been a significant increase in the
number of positive cases during the last three to four days.
As of now, of the 277 samples tested, 66 students, four mess
workers and one other person in the residential quarters have
tested positive, Dr Radhakrishnan said.
From December 1 to 10, 16 persons tested positive and it was
followed by 11 cases on Friday last, 12 on Saturday and 32
on Sunday.
Attributing the reason for the spike in cases in the last
couple of days due to contact-tracing--testing of primary
and secondary contacts and persons with symptoms, he said
''as per public health protocols, we have advised IIT-M to
put in place effective containment measures and avoid
unnecessary movement."
Out of the nine hostels and one guest house, there are more
cases in two hostels.
The Health Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, in
coordination with the IIT-M, has put in place standard
operating procedures.
''We will be testing 774 students and samples of 408
students have already been lifted,” he said.
Officials said the mess was closed on December nine and
a new catering arrangement was made by the management.
As more students tested positive, the dining hall was closed
on December 10 and distribution of packed food to the rooms
was started.
UNI GV 1140
Tags: #IIT-Madras emerges COVID-19 hotspot# 71 test positive
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