Bengaluru: A medical college in Dharwad, Karnataka, has been designated as a COVID-19 cluster, according to officials, after the number of students and staff infected with the coronavirus increased to 182 from 66.
The majority of those infected at the SDM College of Medical Sciences in Dharwad were fully vaccinated against coronavirus, according to authorities, who added that the outbreak was caused by a recent freshers’ party held on campus. Dr Yashwant, district health officer of Hubli-Dharwad, said, “Most of them have got both doses of the vaccine. All of them have been isolated in the campus itself.”
Following testing of over 300 students, the Covid test result of 66 completely vaccinated students and employees of the institution came back positive on Thursday. Today, more college students are being tested. COVID-19 infected people’s samples have been submitted for genome sequencing to see if a new variation is responsible for the recent outbreak. Officials said the Covid positive individuals have little to no symptoms and are being treated on campus.
Today, the state health agency will examine around 3,000 employees and students at the college and hospital (clinical and non-clinical). At least 1,000 people have been tested so far, with results expected soon. In the previous several weeks, the number of Covid cases has fallen in numerous states, including Karnataka. Today, the state recorded 306 new cases, with a 0.36 percent positive rate.