Containment zones have been reclaimed with other protocols for schools and hostels in Bangalore.
Karnataka has now mandated that all those arriving in the state from Kerala and checking into hotels, resorts, hostels, home stays and dormitories must compulsorily present a negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours. The owners of these establishments will need to ensure that residents present negative COVID-19 certificates.
The above was one of several new protocols regarding COVID-19 in the state announced by the Karnataka government, following a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. The rules also say that if a group of five or more people is identified in places like hostels and educational institutions, those places will be declared ‘pollution zones’ and additional measures will be taken, such as retesting after seven days.
These measures were implemented after several cases were identified at the Manjushree School of Nursing, where several students had traveled from Kerala to attend examinations. More than 105 COVID-19 cases were also detected at SNN Raj Lake View Apartment in Bengaluru. The apartment was turned into a group after holding an anniversary party attended by more than 100 people.
Several of the new rules belong to the students. For example, a competent authority in an educational institution will have to maintain a list of students traveling to and from Kerala from the hostel or university. Kerala has the highest number of active COVID-19 cases in the country.
“Students are required to produce negative RT PCR test reports, no longer than 72 hours, each time they return from Kerala and until the situation improves,” the state government has said.
The state government has also recommended the following public health measures:
– Only urgent / necessary needs are allowed to get things out of the room; and students left on campus or security guards can help pick up and move.
– As far as possible, all students residing in the hostel should stay in separate rooms to maintain an adequate physical distance and avoid crowds.
– Any possibility of wide avenues (such as overcrowding in dining areas, waiting rooms, reading rooms, indoor play areas, gymnasium, etc.) should be avoided within the hostel and universities / schools.
– Meal times should be staggered to ensure that there are no crowds in the dining room.
– Daytime students traveling from Kerala to schools or universities anywhere in Karnataka will undergo RT-PCR testing every fortnight.
Also, university hostels should not allow visitors for any reason. “Residents should not be allowed to receive visitors / relatives without obtaining the express permission of the COVID nodal officers.”
For employees working in multinational companies, the government has ordered that they get RT PCR testing at their own cost.
Additionally, general COVID-19 protocols, such as wearing masks, physical distancing, and crowd prevention, along with increased vigilance, have been recommended in the circular.
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