The source of infection among students has not been traced to a common group (file)
Thiruvananthapuram:
Days after 192 Class 10 students from two schools in Kerala’s Malappuram tested positive for COVID-19, a district education official said 91 attended a common tuition center.
“91 students, of the 192 who tested positive, were attending a registration center. This has been sealed by the police for now. Other students who attend these classes have been asked to remain in home isolation and are being evaluated, “Ramesh Kumar, the education officer, told NDTV.
Kumar said a third school, close to the previous two, had also been closed for now as a precaution.
Dr. K Sakeena, the district medical officer, said students who attended the registration center will be screened today.
“We cannot give the numbers: how many students who already tested positive had links to the enrollment center. Some cases have been reported and all students there will be assessed as part of the general tests,” he said.
Dr. Sakeena also said that around 2,000 people from areas in and around the homes of students and teachers are also being tested. This number includes parents and others who would normally be on the contact tracking list.
Massive testing for students at the two schools began after a student and teacher, one from each school, reported symptoms of COVID-19.
“It was just one student who reported positive first … and, in another school, a teacher tested positive. We did massive testing as a precaution to check for any possible spread. Over 600 were tested, of which 192 were positive. Most were asymptomatic, “Kumar explained.
Of the students who tested positive, 149 were from one school and 43 from the other. Of the staff, including teachers, 39 were from one school and 33 from the other.
At this time, the source of infection among the students has not been traced to a common group, and contact tracing and testing is still ongoing, a medical official said.
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