Kalamassery: The hostels at the Cochin University of Science and Technology campus have closed down after students fell ill due to influenza. All the hostels on the campus, except the research scholars’ hostel, have been shut until 19 March. The university has asked the students to immediately vacate their hostel rooms. However, students who are staying as guests need not vacate.
The classes would be conducted online; there is no change in the scheduled exams. The authorities said that the hostels were being shut down as a precaution after four students fell ill due to influenza. However, as per the records of the department of health, around thirty-five students have fallen ill. Among them, three students were sent home for quarantine after they showed symptoms of COVID-19.
It was on 4 March that students began showing signs of influenza. The health department noted that the students who had participated in the foam dance that was held as part of a celebration in the Siberia hostel on 2 March had come down with fever. The department conducted an inspection at the hostels on 5 March and asked the respective wardens to take the necessary precaution to prevent an influenza outbreak.
