Civic body wants colleges to enforce social distancing

Civic body wants colleges to enforce social distancing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.12.2021

To counter the threat from the Omicron variant, the Greater Chennai Corporation has asked colleges and universities in the city to ensure physical distancing in classrooms, labs, libraries and hostels. “Since schools and colleges have resumed classes, it has been observed that in many institutions, there is poor compliance with wearing masks among the students and teaching staff in classrooms and many instances of nonmaintenance of social distancing,” corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said in his letter to deans, registrars and heads of institutions on Friday.

“With Omicron variant spreading rapidly, any Covid inappropriate behaviour will increase the risk of spread of infection,” the letter said.

It also asked colleges to avoid cultural events and functions involving crowding of students and to encourage the use of disposable plates in hostels and canteens.

However, city colleges said it will be difficult to follow social distancing while conducting physical classes.

“It is difficult to maintain social distancing in normal mode with students attending physical classes six days a week. If colleges are allowed to conduct classes in dual mode, we will be able to maintain social distancing,” said Madras Christian College principal Paul Wilson. He said colleges will space out the offline exams if cases increase. DG Vaishnav College principal S Santhosh Baboo said most of the students above 18 years were vaccinated. “If vaccination is allowed for those below 18 years after January 3, we will ask all our first year students to take the jab. Then our campus will be fully vaccinated,” he said.