Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 24: It has reliably been learnt that about 600 students have tested positive for coronavirus infection after colleges reopened in Dakshina Kannada district. It is said that most of the students who contracted the disease are of Kerala origin.
The college students had been tested for infection a few weeks back. Thereafter, physical classes have begun. As the infections went up, 29 institutions in the district have been declared as containment zones.
Dr Ashok, district nodal officer for Dakshina Kannada district relating to covid19, said that most of the colleges which did not strictly follow the Covid rules during the examinations and physical classes have been served with notices. He said that most of the students who appeared for examinations during the last few weeks got infected as some of the institutions failed to follow precautionary measures.
The infected students are under quarantine at their hostels, flats and covid care centres. The health department has said that 620 students have tested positive and a few colleges have been advised to stop conducting physical classes.
It is learnt that people with medical background are deployed to supervise the students in hostels and that many who were on primary contact with the infected persons have not yet undergone quarantine. Students who should have been in quarantine are mixing with other students and people in other hostels. Complaints have been registered against the educational institutions which have been saying that students who should have been quarantined have left for their homes, it is learnt.
In certain cases, students under quarantine were served in the same room as others, and they were kept in the same wing. Institutions which failed to follow the norms will face cases, said Dr Ashok.
Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner, Dr Rajendra K V, during his meeting with officials, said that negligence of college managements is apparent and warned that first information reports will be registered if the managements do not properly handle the students in quarantine.