There has been a major outbreak of coronavirus inside IIT Madras – and the campus is placed under temporary lockdown. According to health authorities, 71 Covid cases were reported in the last two weeks, of which 66 are students, four mess staff, and one from resident quarters.
The single-day highest spike was on Sunday with 32 fresh cases and the number is likely to go up in the next couple of days with the Tamil Nadu government instructing the institute to test all the students on the campus.
The institute has issued an official circular on Sunday informing the shutting down of all departments and facilities with immediate effect.
The circular, a copy of which is accessed by Express, says “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. All faculty, staff, project staff, and research scholars will work from home until such time.
All students, scholars, and project staff staying on campus are advised strictly to confine themselves to their hostel rooms and maintain social distance at all times for their own safety,” it reads.
The advisories issued earlier by the administration, the Tamil Nadu government, and the Government of India are to be fully complied with. “In case of any symptoms of Covid (fever, dry cough, sore throat, diarrhoea, loss of taste/smell, or any other symptoms) you are required to contact the IIT Madras hospital authorities immediately,” the circular says.
When contacted, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan told The New Indian Express that health authorities are working closely with IIT Madras to contain the spread. “These kinds of localized clusters are expected.
We suspect a 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.”
