Kolkata colleges, varsities take guard after case spurt

KOLKATA: Colleges and universities in Kolkata have reacted to the “rapid increase” in Covid cases in the city by directing staff and students to start adhering to strict safety norms on the campus as recommended by the government which includes wearing masks at all time and practise social distancing.
Several campuses have already issued notifications to revive safety measures on the campus while others have scheduled meetings of heads of the departments to discuss if stricter measures like regulating number of students attending practical classes and libraries and restricting access to common places.

Principals and VCs are particularly worried about the rise in cases as institutes were shut for offline classes for over two years since March 2020 over the fear of virus spreading through crowded campuses.
To prevent a spread of the virus on the campus, heads have already sent out safety instructions.
Jadavpur University has already issued a notification instructing teachers, students, officers and other staff members to observe the safety protocol in “view of rapid rise in cases”. “We have appealed to the entire JU community to observe all safety guidelines at all times when on the campus. Everybody must wear a mask at all times on the campus,” said a JU official.
St Xavier’s College will be reopening on July 4. “We have carried out meetings so that we are prepared with safety measures. Campus will be thoroughly sanitized and wearing of masks will be mandatory,” said St Xavier’s College principal Father Dominic Savio.
At Presidency University, staff and students have been wearing masks. At Bethune College, authorities are sensitising students on the need of wearing masks. Principal Krishna Roy said she herself was wearing masks along with all her teachers and non-teaching staff.