Udupi government college students sent back after failing to produce COVID-19 negative reports

Students of Government First Grade College, Kaup, on Tuesday had to return home from the college without attending classes as they failed to bring Covid-19 negative report and permission letter from their parents. As many as 130 final year students in the UG and PG section were to attend the offline classes on Tuesday, however, only 15 turned up. But none of them had Covid negative report and permission letter.

Knowing that attending classes without the Covid negative report is not possible, students went to nearby primary health centres and gave their swab samples for Covid test. College principal Dr Anil Kumar said that as per the order of higher authorities and the district administration, students should bring Covid negative reports and permission letter of their parents to attend classes. Otherwise they will not be allowed inside classes to contain the spread of the virus. Those students can continue to attend online classes till they get their Covid negative reports, he added.

Students at Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty College, Shirva, also faced the same situation as four students who came to attend classes, did not bring Covid negative reports. Lecturers of this college had given their swab samples on November 13 and all of them have tested negative for Covid. Udupi DC G Jagadish said private and KSRTC buses will ply on specific routes if there is demand from students 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.