This is the second Covid cluster in Bangalore this week. An international school in Whitefield earlier reported an outbreak, with 33 students and one staff member testing positive.
Karnataka reported 402 new cases on Friday, including 224 in Bangalore. The last time the state reported more than 400 cases was on October 28, when 478 people tested positive. Those infected in the nursing school are all freshmen and from Kerala. They had shown up to college about two weeks ago. Three students exhibited flu-like symptoms with a cold and were tested. Their three roommates have tested negative and are under observation.
Nine isolated at CCC
Of the 12 positive students, 11 are fully vaccinated. The 12th student tests positive for the second time and has not been vaccinated. “Nine students have been isolated in accordance with guidelines from the Covid Care Center, Jigani,†said Manjunath J, urban district administrator.
“Two students returned to Kerala because they were asymptomatic and one returned to Mumbai on November 25. Information concerning them has been transmitted to the respective states,” he added.
According to college management, the students were tested last week in randomized tests and came back negative.
The hostel and the premises have been disinfected and those in charge of the health service are in contact with the students.
“The district surveillance officer, Anekal taluk health worker and their teams went to the campus and took the necessary precautionary measures,” Manjunath told TOI.
Rigorous testing, screening for SA, HK passengers
Amid concerns over the new variant of Covid-19 B.1.1529, the state government issued a circular on Friday demanding rigorous screening and testing for people coming and transiting Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong. The same goes for other “at risk†countries.
South Africa has reported six cases of B.1.529, Botswana three and Hong Kong 1. The new variant has raised public health complications, reads the circular issued by TK Anil Kumar, senior secretary of the department of health and family well-being. The government demanded that the contacts of these international passengers be monitored and tested. Swabs from Covid-positive international travelers will be sent for genomic sequencing.
