City colleges will function as usual on Monday tomorrow, said officials of the Directorate of Collegiate Education, following concerns over two students of city colleges being treated for Swine Flu on Sunday, Closing down colleges was termed as a drastic measure and such responses were completely unnecessary as it only created panic, it was added.
However, the Madras Christian College (MCC), where one of the hostel students tested positive for the A(H1N1) virus on Sunday, has decided to remain closed till August 27. The decision was made at a college council meeting.
“Closing the college is a preventive measure. We have many day scholars who come from various parts of the city. The college might act as a reservoir for transmission,” said Alexander Jesudasan, principal of the MCC.
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He added that the hostel premises and the room in which the student stayed would be completely sanitised and treated with disinfectants. Meanwhile, an inspection by a team of health inspectors has revealed that none of the other students exhibited any flu-like symptoms.
A spokesperson of Satyabama University, the other city college of which a student reportedly tested positive for the virus said, “It could be a day scholar. Since it is a Sunday, we are not aware of all the facts. We are checking and when we get a clear picture, we will decide on the future course of action.”
Officials in the government have advised prudence and said that unless there was an outbreak, shutting colleges does not make any sense. A senior official of the Higher Education Department said that after detailed consultations with college authorities and the Health Department on Monday, guidelines would be evolved to tackle future cases.
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