25 more test positive at IIT-Madras, total cases at 55

CHENNAI: As many as 25 more Covid-19 cases have been reported at IIT Madras on Saturday. So far, 55 cases have been reported among students and staff at IIT.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan visited the patients and inspected the saturated testing being done at the campus along with Greater Chennai Corporation officials. After first case was reported on Tuesday, two cases appeared on Wednesday and 12 cases and about 18 cases were reported on Thursday and Friday respectively.

The Health Secretary said that there are only 17 people admitted out of the total active cases in the city, with four admissions each in DMS and DME institutions, 6 patients in empanelled hospitals and three others in ESI Hospital. He said that all the positive patients at IIT are stable and there is no need to panic over the clinical management of these patients.

"We are following the ICMR guidelines for the treatment and management of the positive cases. The approved drugs are being used for the treatment and there is no cause of concern on clinical management," he said.

He further added that we should focus on the prevention than panic about the cases. People at IIT are now following the safety measures such as use of masks, social distancing and other procedures. We should not become complacent but follow safety measures to prevent the spread. There is no immediate concern due to these cases but the bed facilities, oxygen concentrators, medications and other facilities are available and kept ready in case of emergency," said the Health Secretary.

Read more: 30 Covid cases in IIT Madras; numbers likely to go up

Amid an increase in Covid cases, the State government on Friday re-introduced levying penalty on those failing to wear masks, and directed officials to ensure that the rule was strictly followed.

The number of daily cases in Tamil Nadu jumped to 57, with Chennai alone recording 37 of them, and officials said it could go up to 100 in the coming days. Taking note of the spike, the government directed the health department to step up testing of samples to around 25,000 a day from the present 18,000.

On Thursday, 12 students from the campus tested positive raising concerns among general public.