Covid-19: 486 college students test positive in two weeks in Dakshina Kannada district

MANGALURU: As many as 486 students in medical, paramedical and engineering colleges have tested positive for Covid-19 from January 1-12.
District health officials also identified three new clusters on Wednesday.
Dr Ashok H, the Covid-19 nodal officer in Dakshina Kannada, said an engineering college hostel was identified as a cluster after six students tested positive.
A total of 77 samples have been collected.School students at a government hostel also tested positive. While 36 samples have been collected, classes in the school that the students are in have been suspended for the time being. Six cases were also reported from a colony of migrant labourers, the nodal officer said.
The Dakshina Kannada expert committee on Covid-19 met on Tuesday and has submitted a report to the deputy commissioner on observations made and actions to be taken.
Dr Ashok said that from among the 486 students, 196 students are from Kerala and 127 are from Dakshina Kannada. The rest are from various parts of the country and state, he said. “Most of the students who have tested Covid positive are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. However, it is important that they do not mingle with senior citizens and those with comorbidities,” Dr Ashok said.
One death in DK
Dakshina Kannada district reported 519 Covid-positive cases and one death, taking the total death toll to 1,706. The district has 2,253 active cases with a test positivity rate of 5.04%.
361 cases in Udupi
Udupi district reported 361 Covid positive cases on Wednesday. The district has a total of 1,625 active cases. The district has reported an overall positivity rate of 5.57%. Taluk-wise, the positivity rate is the highest in Udupi at 7.4%, followed by Karkala at 3.9% and Kundapur at 2%.