Chennai, April 30 (BPNS)

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras which has turned into a cluster after several students were tested positive for Covid -19 reported 13 more fresh cases on Saturday. The Tamil Nadu health department directed the IIT-M to continue with the vigil regarding Covid -19 cases.

Doctors who are treating the IIT- M Covid -19 patients said that the health of most of the students is stable and added,” Most students have been isolated in quarters and hostels. They have mild symptoms like cold, fever, throat, and body ache.”

The state public health department told BPNS that the genome sequencing lab of the Directorate of Public Health department has found that all the samples drawn from IIT-M were BA2 Omicron variants.

Dr. Selvavinayagam, director of Public health while speaking to BPNS said, “ This omicron variant was the dominant variant in the community even in March. We have not seen any new sub-variants.”

Tamil Nadu health secretary, Dr. J. Radhakrishnan meanwhile speaking to BPNS said, “ We will continue to screen all students, faculty, and other administrative staff on the campus, and health workers will draw samples from all staff and students on the campus.”

IIT- Madras has been a cluster during the second wave of Covid -19 and doctors are of the opinion that interaction with students and researchers from other universities on the campus would have led to some students testing positive for Covid -19.