Dharwad district, which has been recording zero positivity of late, suffered a jolt when 66 medical students tested positive for COVID-19. The district administration sealed two hostels of SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital in Dharwad on November 25.
Majority of those who have tested positive are first-year students.
A team of health officials and personnel has been deployed in the college campus, which also houses a hospital.
Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Nitesh Patil visited the campus on November 25. During a meeting with the college authorities and staff, he sought details on the precautionary measures that have been put in place.
Speaking to mediapersons after visiting the medical college, Mr. Patil said that two students’ hostels on the college campus had been sealed. All the students and faculty members had been directed to undergo an RT-PCR test.
All those who had contracted the disease had received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. “While some have mild symptoms, many are asymptomatic,” he said adding that the health condition of most of the students (who tested positive) was stable, and all of them would be quarantined for a fortnight.
He said all those who had tested positive had attended a students’ programme at D. Veerendra Heggade Kalakshetra, which is located in the college campus, on November 17.
“All the primary contacts are being tested. Of the 400 students in the college, so far, 300 students have been tested, of which 66 have tested positive. The results of the tests on the remaining 100 students will be known on November 26,” he said.
All those who had tested positive were hostel inmates, which limits the chances of the infection spreading out of the campus.
The administration had taken steps to trace the primary and secondary contacts.
“As a precaution, the administration has sealed two students' hostels, and all the students have been asked to self-quarantine for one week. The campus has been cordoned off by the police. The college is cooperating with the administration. Food and medicines are being supplied to the patients by the health department," he said.
Emphasising the need for exercising restraint and caution, particularly with regard to social gatherings, he asked people to avoid public gatherings and compulsorily follow COVID-19 protocol.
As campus houses a hospital, college authorities have been told to get all the 3,000 staff and faculty members of the hostel and hospital tested.
College principal Dr. Ratnamala Desai, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Yashwanth Madinkar, District Surveillance Officer Dr. Sujata Hasavimath went among those present at the media conference.
