IIT-B hit by 18 Covid-19 cases this month

Pic/Sameer Markande

A total of 18 Covid-19 cases were detected in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay at Powai this month. Of these, 11 are students and 7 of them are from one hostel. The Institute authorities have swung into action and proactive measures are being taken for early detection of infection. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducted multiple tests on campus on Tuesday and the samples have gone for screening.

All confirmed cases are mild infections and many of them are asymptomatic. A specific floor of hostel 18 has been sealed for now, after infected students were shifted to the institute's hospital. The total number of cases also include on campus residents who are not students. While there have been Covid cases on campus earlier, in this month, the institute has seen a steep rise in them. The institute recorded three cases in the first week of December, seven in the second week and eight this week. More samples were collected in a BMC drive on Tuesday.

A specific floor of hostel 18 has been sealed after students were shifted to the institute's hospital

Of five people who tested positive on campus on Sunday, two are professors. Dr Vilas Mohokar, from BMC's S ward, said, "Considering that one of the professors has returned from the USA, all five samples will be sent for genome sequencing." The professor was admitted to SevenHills hospital as a precautionary measure. Two of the students have also been shifted to a hospital as a precautionary measure. All are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. Mohokar also said 240 samples were collected in the drive on Tuesday, the reports of which are awaited.

Get-together spread it

The students who were found infected last week, had apparently gone out of the institute for a get-together with friends. While initially two of them tested positive, then five who had come into contact with them also tested positive. Soon after this, others who had come in contact with them were tested.

"There is definitely an increase in the number of cases, but the situation is not as it was during the second wave of Covid. We have a dedicated Covid ward in the institute hospital and one hostel has been kept on standby to function as a quarantine facility. Thankfully, none of the cases have shown any serious symptoms. But every day we get a few cases as opposed to maximum two to three a week since mid-October," said Professor S Sudarshan, deputy director, (Academic and Infrastructural Affairs) adding that the BMC also held a mass test drive on campus on Tuesday.

‘Few students on campus'

When asked if the rise in infections is due to more students coming back to campus, Prof. Sudarshan said, "There is no such connection, in fact in December we have less students on campus as it is vacation time. It is due to Covid which is unpredictable." The institute has not changed its plans for hybrid mode education in the next semester as of now. It will wait and watch before taking any decision.

Inputs from Prajakta Kasale