Over 100 students of IIT Madras tests +ve, all departments to be shut down

Dec. 14: As the country has now entered into the phase of Unlock, educational institutions in most of the states have now started to function although in a staggered manner. However, the detection of 100 plus Covid-19 positive cases in the campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras within a span of two weeks has become a cause of concern.

A total of 104 students and others have contracted the disease and all were doing well in a hospital. All of them are being treated at the King’s Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research as per the directive of Chief Minister K Palaniswami. The IIT Madras has issued an official circular on Sunday informing shutting down of all departments and facilities with immediate effect. “In view of the recent spike in Covid cases in the hostel sector, it has been decided to shut down all departments, Centres and the library immediately until further notice,” stated the circular.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said, “We suspect common mess, where students get together, to be the cause and advised the administration to close the mess and deliver the food directly to the residents. We have asked the institute to conduct tests on everyone and Chennai Corporation will be assisting them in disinfecting the hotspots.”