5,000 MIT students staying in hostels to undergo RT-PCR test

Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha said that he has directed the MAHE (Manipal Academy of Higher Education) administration to ensure that swab samples of all students staying on the MIT campus were tested.

The DC told media persons that the health department officials will conduct RT-PCR tests for about 5,000 students, who are staying in the hostels located on the campus. He added that the Covid-19 cases were increasing in the district since March. But a majority of the cases were from the MIT campus.

Also read: Manipal Institute of Technology declared as containment zone

Jagadeesha said that the situation had made it inevitable for the district administration to adopt strict measures. The Covid-19 positive cases that had reduced in the district have increased again with the onset of summer season. The sudden spike of the cases in the MIT campus has worsened the situation, he rued.

Out of 33 Covid-19 positive cases reported in Udupi district on Tuesday, 27 were from the MIT, Manipal and MAHE campus. Out of 42 Covid-19 positive cases reported in the district on Wednesday, 26 were students from the MIT, Manipal. Thus MIT, Manipal campus was declared as a ‘containment zone’ on Wednesday, he added.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

The MIT, MAHE has taken a decision to conduct online classes only. The practical sessions and scheduled exams were postponed indefinitely, he added.