The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has suspended all academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities for 15 days following the Coronavirus threat including classes, examinations, seminars, conferences, visits and laboratory work, according to a notice issued by the institute's Registrar, V Rajarajan. "All students are instructed to proceed to their homes before noon of March 16, 2020, and await further instructions," it said. "The residents of the campus and the faculty should stay home, avoid social gatherings and maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus," the notice added.
The instructions were issued in view of the prevailing situation relating to the global Coronavirus outbreak, and the instructions of the Karnataka State Government, to prevent further spread of the virus and as a precautionary measure to limit contact between people and thereby limit the spread of the virus. The residents of the campus and the faculty have been asked to stay home, avoid social gatherings and maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. "All officers and staff in administration will continue to discharge their official functions over the internet and whenever there is a need to be physically present at the institute, they would be required to do so. Officers and staff should always be available over phone or email for contact," the notice read.
The health centre and essential services like security and housekeeping will be functional as usual. "To further encourage social distancing, the library will also remain closed. All amenities, excluding the pharmacy and the milk parlour, will remain closed. All eateries will also remain closed during this period. All club activities like Gymkhana, faculty club and Tata Memorial Club will remain closed until further orders," added the Registrar's message.
The travel restrictions issued on March 10 and 12 and the quarantine of travellers will continue until they are reviewed by the administration. "Students registered in the various courses (UG and PG), and degree programs, will be informed as to how the interruption of the semester will be handled," said the message, adding, "These are precautionary measures to limit the spread of the pandemic and will only work if everyone concerned takes these instructions seriously. In particular, it is the responsibility of every traveller to strictly adhere to quarantine instructions."
