21 nursing students from Kerala test +ve

21 nursing students from Kerala test +ve

Darshan BH TNN

06.08.2021

Fears of travellers from Kerala triggering an outbreak in the state hit home on Thursday when 21 students enrolled in a private nursing college in Hassan city tested positive for Covid-19.

The students, who arr ived a fortnight ago from their hometowns in Kerala, were staying in a paying guest facility. They have since been moved to another lodge where they have been isolated. Some two dozen other students who are primary contacts have also been isolated in the same facility.

The students are pursuing degree courses in the college located near Katihalli industrial area. A total of 45 students were staying in the PG facility located in KR Puram. All the infected students had arrived in Hassan sometime before July 26 to attend exams. They had furnished negative Covid-19 reports on arrival. Since none were inoculated, health department officials took the initiative and gave them all their first dose of Covishield.

“On Tuesday, a student who showed Covid symptoms was subjected to RT-PCR test. It confirmed the infection and tests were then conducted on the remaining students in the PG. Most of those infected are asymptomatic,” an official said.

The PG has been sealed and those infected and their primary contacts were moved to a private lodge near the centre of the city. Tests will be conducted on the primary contacts on Friday and Saturday.

“Our team visited all the 10 nursing colleges in the city on Thursday,” a health department official said.

Officials also said two students from Hassan city’s Home Science College also tested positive on Thursday. “We are thinking of testing all students and staff in all colleges,” said Dr KM Sathish, district health officer.