Cultural event triggers chain of Covid infections at CET

Thiruvananthapuram: The recently concluded cultural event ‘Dhwani’ at College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET) has triggered a chain of Covid cases among the students. The health authorities have passed instructions to keep the students in isolation and to cancel any further mass gathering events scheduled for the coming days. Communication has also been issued to shift the symptomatic students staying in hostels to separate blocks.
According to the health authorities, while the infection is not serious and is expected to be curbed within a week, it has reinforced the need for preventive behaviour, especially while holding mass gatherings. “The Covid outbreak at CET following a gathering assumes significance especially with the schools set to reopen in the state. It is very important that we should not let our guard down. Everything has returned to normal and it is upon individuals and institutions to properly abide by Covid appropriate behaviour. Symptomatic persons/students have to be isolated so that it does not result in mass leave of absence and those students with co-morbidities also need to be guarded from infection,” the authorities said. The health authorities said that while symptoms resolve in students mostly within two to three days, once it transmits to a co-morbid person, it may require hospitalization.
The clustering of cases was noted following an increased reporting of patients (students) with complaints of fever, rhinitis, sore throat, and other symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection from CET.
An investigation by the team of Pangappara health centre revealed that clustering of the cases was noted after the cultural fest of CET - Dhwani. The event was held from May 20 to 22. Around 70 students from women’s and men’s hostels were found to be symptomatic and initial testing confirmed positive cases among the students. A mass testing camp was also held the other day and results are being awaited. It is also learnt that some of the students from neighbouring engineering colleges who attended Dhwani have also developed symptoms.
The health team has advised the students for five day isolation and has stressed the need to use N95 masks. Besides, they have been asked not to travel in public vehicles. Predominant symptom among the students was fever and sore throat. Many students have complained of rhinitis, cough, headache, body pain, vertigo and vomiting. The students have also been directed to strictly follow cough etiquette inside the campus.
Earlier in January, CET alone had accounted for 300 positive cases and had emerged as the major educational cluster during Covid spread in the city. District medical officer Jose D Cruz said that the outbreak in CET is not alarming and steps have been taken to prevent the spread.