Karnataka: Manipal Institute of Technology campus declared containment zone, 59 students test COVID positive
Synopsis
Karnataka Health Minister Dr Sudhakar said the students will be isolated, monitored, tracked, and tested.
Following a recent spike in the number of Covid-19 cases on the campus of Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), the Udupi district administration has declared it as a containment zone. The development comes after 59 cases were reported from the campus.
The decision was taken by Udupi Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha after 59 cases of coronavirus were reported on the campus between 11 and 16 March. Of these, 27 people were found Covid positive on 17 March.
Karnataka Health Minister Dr Sudhakar said the students will be isolated, monitored, tracked, and tested.
“Of the 59 cases reported from MIT campus since March 11, 42 positive results were obtained on Monday and Tuesday alone. More students, faculty, and others residing in the campus will be tested. Only faculty and essential staff will be allowed into the campus with proper identification. Movement of residential students have also been restricted,” a government official explained.
For a period of two weeks, the movement of students in hostels and others residing on the MIT campus, one of India's premier academic and research institutions, will be restricted.
"Faculty and essential duty staff of MIT campus are allowed in the campus with proper pass/identification," the notification issued by Udupi Deputy Commissioner read.
A fresh round of coronavirus testing will be conducted on students inside the campus.
While Manipal is a college town, the restrictions have only been imposed on the campus of the Manipal Institute of Technology and not other educational institutions.
The MIT administration has decided to conduct all theory classes online and defer the laboratory and practical classes. MIT, one of India's premier academic and research institutions, attracts a large number of students every year.
On Wednesday, Karnataka logged 1,275 new Covid-19 cases and four related fatalities, taking the caseload to 9.63 lakh and the toll to 12,407. Bengaluru Urban, with 786 cases, continued to top the state in the number of infections. Cumulatively 9,63,614 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 12,407 deaths and 9,40,968 discharges.