Tamil Nadu: 12 Students Test Covid Positive At IIT Madras

According to Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan, the first case was detected on April 19.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras. (Image: PTI File)

New Delhi: With nine more Covid-19 cases reported in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on Thursday, the total count reached 12 over the last three days.

According to Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan, the first case was detected on April 19.

Radhakrishnan, while speaking to news agency IANS said, "All the students who tested Covid-19 positive are now lodged in the IIT hostel at Taramani."

He said that the infected students have a mild infection and added that wards at the General hospital, Guindy, are ready for the students if necessary.

"The doctors at Guindy hospital have said that the students have a mild infection and they don't need to be hospitalised as of now," he said.

In the wake of the recent cases, Radhakrishnan has directed the officials to sanitize the locality and follow safety guidelines. He also went on to inspect the IIT campus.

He further said that the state government has formed a special team to break the cluster and take precautionary steps.

Notably, after the first case, two more students tested positive for the virus on April 20 after which the health department, Chennai municipal corporation and the medical team at the college campus collected samples of those who were in close contact with the infected students.

In the light of an uptick in cases in various states, the state governments have brought back compulsory mask mandate to check the spread of the virus.

Radhakrishnan also said that the students and other campus residents have been asked to compulsorily wear masks, get vaccinated if they haven’t yet, and also not to share food.

The health secretary said that around 3000 residents and their contacts will be tested for the Covid virus. Some students had attended closed door workshops and other symposiums even after having minor cold and fever.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu had logged 31 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, prompting the state health secretary to urge people to wear masks and take Covid precautions seriously.

With 2,380 fresh infections being reported in a day, India's Covid tally surged to 4,30,49,974, while the active cases rose to 13,433, according to the data of Union Health Ministry.

The toll climbed to 5,22,062 with 56 fresh fatalities, the ministry data added.