Chennai: IIT-Madras reported eight fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday taking the total number of cases to 191 since December 1. The institution reported sporadic cases of infections earlier this month to eventually become a COVID-19 cluster.
A total of 104 cases were reported on Monday while 79 were reported on Tuesday. With state health department intervening to check the spread, 1000 samples were tested by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), which included 770 students.
After two students reported fever, the GCC also tested 550 people in the neighbouring Anna University on Tuesday. While two students with fever tested negative, another six tested positive at the university.
“The main issue is that there is no mask compliance,” health secretary J Radhakrishnan was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. “You obviously have to remove your mask while eating but the danger is when people gather together to eat and have conversations in a group. We have to continue to be careful until we get a vaccine,” the health secretary said.
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