CHENNAI: IIT-Madras temporarily closed its academic zone, including departments, laboratories and library, and quarantined staff and shelters after nearly 71 people, including 66 students, tested positive for Covid-19 infection since December 1 . This is the first major group seen by the city after the campuses reopened to seniors.
While two people tested positive for the viral infection on December 1, 14 more cases emerged on December 10. Since Friday, the campus, which has been declared a hotspot, has added 55 more cases to its Covid-19 count.
IIT-M officials said there are 774 students on campus. Most of those infected were residents of two shelters: Krishna and Jamuna. On Saturday, the management told the hoteliers not to leave their rooms. A faculty residing in a boarding house and four canteen workers have also tested positive. While the health department and IIT-M administration had yet to identify the cause, the students say crowding in the single operational disorder led to the spread of the infection.
Overcrowding in clutter sparked a spike in Covid cases, say IIT-M students
While both the health department and IIT-M management had yet to identify the cause of the infection, the students say that crowding in the single operational disorder led to the spread of the infection. “Before, we could use a single mess as there were fewer students on campus. But when the students returned, the mess was filled, ”said one researcher. “Disorder is not a place where we wear our masks. So we were all vulnerable. Four workers in the disaster tested positive, ”he said. On December 9, management called in a new group of cooks and staff for the disaster, after making sure they all tested negative. The next day, the lunchroom was closed and food was sent to the students’ rooms. Academic areas, including all departments and laboratories, have been closed and sanitized.
The public health department noticed the group when 10 students were admitted to the Institute of Aging at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine in Guindy with severe to moderate Covid-19 symptoms. Government hospital records showed 25 admissions from the IIT-M campus as of December 1. “We saw sporadic entries, but when a group of people entered on Saturday, we alerted officials. Most of the patients are recovering well, ”said a senior physician.
Meanwhile, a circular from the IIT-M registrar ordered faculty members, staff, project personnel, and researchers to work from home. Students, staff, and academics remaining on campus were advised to self-quarantine. People with flu-like symptoms were asked to go to the campus hospital.
IIT Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi said that after some students residing in the shelters reported a sudden increase in symptomatic cases, the IIT-M consulted civic authorities and arranged for all students residing in the shelters to be evaluated. “To be cautious, all students have been asked to stay in their rooms and students are being provided with packaged food in shelters,” he said.
In a statement to the media, Ramamurthi said that the institute has been operating in a limited capacity with 10% students in shelters. Research academics, who need to do experimental work, are on campus and project staff, who are working on research projects, visit labs to do their work. The students who returned to the shelters were quarantined for two weeks, he said. “Our ability to quarantine (with room service) is limited, and this limits the speed at which we can bring students back to shelters,” he said.
While two people tested positive for the viral infection on December 1, 14 more cases emerged on December 10. Since Friday, the campus, which has been declared a hotspot, has added 55 more cases to its Covid-19 count.
IIT-M officials said there are 774 students on campus. Most of those infected were residents of two shelters: Krishna and Jamuna. On Saturday, the management told the hoteliers not to leave their rooms. A faculty residing in a boarding house and four canteen workers have also tested positive. While the health department and IIT-M administration had yet to identify the cause, the students say crowding in the single operational disorder led to the spread of the infection.
Overcrowding in clutter sparked a spike in Covid cases, say IIT-M students
While both the health department and IIT-M management had yet to identify the cause of the infection, the students say that crowding in the single operational disorder led to the spread of the infection. “Before, we could use a single mess as there were fewer students on campus. But when the students returned, the mess was filled, ”said one researcher. “Disorder is not a place where we wear our masks. So we were all vulnerable. Four workers in the disaster tested positive, ”he said. On December 9, management called in a new group of cooks and staff for the disaster, after making sure they all tested negative. The next day, the lunchroom was closed and food was sent to the students’ rooms. Academic areas, including all departments and laboratories, have been closed and sanitized.
The public health department noticed the group when 10 students were admitted to the Institute of Aging at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine in Guindy with severe to moderate Covid-19 symptoms. Government hospital records showed 25 admissions from the IIT-M campus as of December 1. “We saw sporadic entries, but when a group of people entered on Saturday, we alerted officials. Most of the patients are recovering well, ”said a senior physician.
Meanwhile, a circular from the IIT-M registrar ordered faculty members, staff, project personnel, and researchers to work from home. Students, staff, and academics remaining on campus were advised to self-quarantine. People with flu-like symptoms were asked to go to the campus hospital.
IIT Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi said that after some students residing in the shelters reported a sudden increase in symptomatic cases, the IIT-M consulted civic authorities and arranged for all students residing in the shelters to be evaluated. “To be cautious, all students have been asked to stay in their rooms and students are being provided with packaged food in shelters,” he said.
In a statement to the media, Ramamurthi said that the institute has been operating in a limited capacity with 10% students in shelters. Research academics, who need to do experimental work, are on campus and project staff, who are working on research projects, visit labs to do their work. The students who returned to the shelters were quarantined for two weeks, he said. “Our ability to quarantine (with room service) is limited, and this limits the speed at which we can bring students back to shelters,” he said.
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