HYDERABAD: Another 72 students and staff of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH), have tested positive for Covid-19 over the past five days.
On Monday, four research scholars, two faculty, two outsourced staff, a postgraduate student, and a regular staff member tested positive. A total of 208 Covid-19 positive cases have been reported from the IIT-H campus from January 6.
Infected students alleged that they are facing trouble accessing ambulance services on campus and added that the clinic does not even have pulse oximeters.
“I called the emergency contact number of the hostel office more than 10 times when I was having a breathing problem, but there was no response. What if something serious happens?” asked a student, who tested positive and is under isolation. Another student said, “I couldn’t get an ambulance on the first day. The number of cases has increased to such an extent that the phar macy number is always busy and hard to reach. It takes at least five to six hours for medicines to be delivered. Worse, most of the time, medicines are out of stock so we have to wait for a day. ” The student said though the institute claims to be prepared, it isn’t.
Students questioned why the institute is asking students to purchase pulse oximeters or pay for RT-PCR tests when it has already collected money from students for health insurance.
The institute announced that classes will be conducted in online mode until March 16. “More than 600 students have already left the campus,” said BS Murty, director, IIT-H. “Almost all the reported cases are either mild or asymptomatic and are showing good signs of recovery within four to five days. ”
In an earlier mail, the institute said that two ambulances, including ‘ICU on Wheels’, are available 24×7 for all emergency situations, including shifting of cases to higher centres.
Food and medicines for all Covid affected students are being delivered directly by attenders following necessary Covid protocols, the institute added.
On Monday, four research scholars, two faculty, two outsourced staff, a postgraduate student, and a regular staff member tested positive. A total of 208 Covid-19 positive cases have been reported from the IIT-H campus from January 6.
Infected students alleged that they are facing trouble accessing ambulance services on campus and added that the clinic does not even have pulse oximeters.
“I called the emergency contact number of the hostel office more than 10 times when I was having a breathing problem, but there was no response. What if something serious happens?” asked a student, who tested positive and is under isolation. Another student said, “I couldn’t get an ambulance on the first day. The number of cases has increased to such an extent that the phar macy number is always busy and hard to reach. It takes at least five to six hours for medicines to be delivered. Worse, most of the time, medicines are out of stock so we have to wait for a day. ” The student said though the institute claims to be prepared, it isn’t.
Students questioned why the institute is asking students to purchase pulse oximeters or pay for RT-PCR tests when it has already collected money from students for health insurance.
The institute announced that classes will be conducted in online mode until March 16. “More than 600 students have already left the campus,” said BS Murty, director, IIT-H. “Almost all the reported cases are either mild or asymptomatic and are showing good signs of recovery within four to five days. ”
In an earlier mail, the institute said that two ambulances, including ‘ICU on Wheels’, are available 24×7 for all emergency situations, including shifting of cases to higher centres.
Food and medicines for all Covid affected students are being delivered directly by attenders following necessary Covid protocols, the institute added.
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