2 schools in Karnataka sealed after 22 kids test Covid positive

Twenty-two children in two government schools — one in Kalagi in Kalaburagi and the other in Bengaluru — tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. The two schools were sealed for seven days. Students in both schools were asymptomatic.

This is the first time schools were sealed after in-person classes resumed for grades 6 and above for the current academic year. Schools for Class 10 and 12 reopened from January 1.

In Kalaburagi, where 15 students were infected, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Rajashekhar Maali told DH that throat swabs of about 20 students were collected on March 1. Of them, the reports of 15 students returned positive for Covid on Thursday.

Throat swabs of about 174 people including students, teachers and cooks were collected on Friday and the report is expected on Saturday evening, he said.

The DHO said the students may have been infected after attending a wedding on February 26 at Bedasur tanda where a few Mumbai returnees were also present. As a precaution, the bazaar day on Monday at Kalagi will be cancelled and the police have been asked to fine those without masks.

Kalaburagi deputy commissioner V V Joythsna told DH that they suspect samples may have been contaminated during collection or in the laboratory. Fresh samples have been sent for tests. “Only after results on Saturday can we confirm that they are positive. All primary and secondary contacts have been quarantined,” the SDC said.

In Bengaluru, the seven class 10 students of the government high school at B Narayanapura in KR Puram who tested positive, have been shifted to the hospital.

On February 26, after two teachers had complained of Covid-19 like symptoms, the headmaster advised them to get tested and declared a holiday for the school on Saturday. The reports of the two teachers turned out positive on March 1, Monday, after which all 213 children of Class 8, 9 and 10 and the rest of the teachers took the Covid-19 test.

“The test results that arrived on Friday showed that seven children were positive. We immediately went to the school, informed the Health Department officials, sanitised the premises and also declared a holiday for the next seven days,” said Hanumantharaya, Block Education Officer, Bengaluru South 4.

Speaking to DH, other teachers suspect their colleagues may have got infected in public transport to reach the school. “Both the teachers were symptomatic,” say teachers.

The officials said the report has been submitted to higher authorities and the Primary and Secondary Education Minister.

There is a primary school adjoining the high-school where 53 students were attending Vidyagama classes. When tested, their teacher tested positive but no students were found infected.