Dharwad Medical College Turns Super Spreader: With 99 new COVID cases, tally reaches 281

Although there were reports of some 66 cases two days back, the numbers have rapidly increased when 116 students tested positive for the infection on Friday.

However, Dharwad District Collector Nitesh Patil informed ANI that another 99 more medical college students and faculty members have now been tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of affected medical students to 281 on Saturday.

"This tally may increase as 1,822 test results are awaited," said Patil.

He further said that out of 281 only six patients are mildly symptomatic and others are non-symptomatic. All have been quarantined and treatment is given.

The students had attended a function held on November 17 in the college campus.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that in an alarming turn of events, 66 fully vaccinated students from SDM College of Medical Sciences, Dharwad, were found to be positive for COVID-19.

Also Read: 66 Fully Vaccinated Students of Dharwad Medical College Test COVID-19 Positive After College Event

300 out of 400 students were made to undergo tests for COVID-19 after a college event, and 66 of the students tested turned out to be positive.

The two hostels at the college had been sealed as a precautionary measure on the orders of the district health officer and deputy commissioner. Physical classes have also been suspended at the moment.

After the medical college reported 66 positive cases, the district administration tested more people including students, staff and primary contacts of infected students, and 116 of them tested positive on Friday, taking the total number of infected students to 182.

Patients have not shown serious symptoms associated with the virus due to the fact they have all taken both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine. As a preventive measure, a holiday has been declared in educational institutions in a radius of 500 meters near the college till Sunday.

Nitesh Patel, the District Collector had earlier said, "We are doing RAT and RTPCR tests of around 3,000 people inside the campus. College administration has been directed to not allow any visitors inside the campus. Attendees will be not allowed inside the hospital where the patients are undergoing treatment."

Karnataka reported 402 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths on Saturday. As per the state's health department, the state has 6,611 active cases of infection. Karnataka has recorded 29,94,963 infections since the onset of the pandemic last year.

With 277 recoveries reported in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries climbed to 29,50,130. The death toll is 38,193. Of the six deaths reported on Friday, one each was reported in Bengaluru Urban, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwada, Hassana, Kodagu and Raichuru.