IIT Madras has reported of identifying COVID-19 cases in the campus spiking to 191 since the last week. Turning out as the COVID-19 hotspot, IIT Madras has staffs, students and workers affected at this juncture. A thorough checkup recording 104 positive cases on Monday followed by 79 more on Tuesday.
Earlier, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has shut down all departments, centres, and the library after 71 people tested positive for COVID-19 since December 1, 2020.
Out of the 71 people who are infected, 66 are students. The faculty, staff, project staff, and research scholars are allotted work from home till the next statement is made by the varsity.
After this revelation, Greater Chennai Corporation along with State Health Department conducted a mass testing drive collecting close to 1,000 samples including 770 students. As of now, COVID cases tally for IIT Madras stands at 191. Additionally, about 550 more have been tested positive from neighbouring areas including 6 people from the campus of Anna University.
IIT Madras Issues Guidelines after Detected with COVID Cases
According to the official notice released by the institute, students, scholars, and project staff members staying at the campus have been instructed to stay inside their hostel rooms.
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Moreover, packed food is being provided to the students inside the hostels. Research scholars have been allowed who need to do experimental work to visit the campus after a 14-day compulsory quarantine and testing of each returnee and taking other safety measures.
The Institute is also preparing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to review the number of scholars and project staff that can work while following all measures in each lab based on its size, ventilation, etc.
However, as per the statement, in case any research scholar needs to return earlier, the researcher will be allowed to do so if they can stay off-campus similar to project staff till their chance came to be accommodated in the hostels and provided their lab could accept them.
Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan informed that a total of 774 students will be tested, of which samples of 408 students have already been taken. He also has talked to all district collectors and Chennai Corporation Commissioner to check educational institutions and hostels to control the spread of the COVID-19.
Tamil Nadu Govt Takes Immediate Actions to Curb COVID Spread
Students at IIT Madras have been asked to stay in isolation and maintain social distancing in the campus. Hostel students have bene mandatorily tested. The State Government in support of the Health Department has instructed to hold mass testing for universities and colleges in the state.
Meals are to be served in small groups while takeaways have been arranged for hostel students. Institutions failing to meet the necessary precautions and norms have been warned against actions to be taken accordant to the Epidemic Diseases Act.
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