Karnataka college sends back students for not having COVID negative report, parents' permission letter

In an incident that occurred on Tuesday, students of Government First Grade College, Kaup had to return home from college without attending the classes as they had not brought with them the COVID-19 negative report and permission letter from their parents. About 130 final year students in the UG and PG section were to attend the offline classes on Tuesday, however, only 15 of them had turned up.

But none of them had the COVID-19 negative report and the permission letter. Knowing that attending the classes without the COVID-19 negative report is not possible, students then went to the nearby primary health centres and gave their swab samples for COVID-19 test. The principal of the College Dr Anil Kumar said that as per the order of the higher authority and the district administration, students should bring COVID-19 negative reports and the permission letter of their parents to attend the classes in person.

Otherwise, they will not be allowed inside the classes as precautions against virus spread are necessary. Those students can continue to attend the online classes till they get their COVID-19 negative report, he added. Students at Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty College, Shirva also faced the same situation as the four students who turned out to attend classes had not brought the COVID-19 negative reports and the permission letter from the parents. Lecturers of the college had given their swab samples on November 13 and all of them have tested negative for COVID-19.

Udupi DC G Jagadish has said that private and KSRTC buses will ply on the specific routes if there is a demand for it by the students' fraternity in the coming days. He also said that he has instructed the DHO to supply necessary kits to the colleges to ensure that COVID-19 protocol is strictly followed and students are not exposed to the virus.