Tamil Nadu makes 2-week quarantine must for hostel students – Times of India

CHENNAI: Ahead of reopening of colleges for final year undergraduate students from Monday (December 7), the state government on Saturday released a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed by the educational institutions inside the campuses. The government had made a two-week quarantine mandatory for all hostel students before they are allowed to attend classes.
“Since residential students are coming from different locations they shall remain in quarantine and self-monitor health for 14 days before being allowed to attend the classes (even if they bring a negative test report or the university or the college plan to test them on arrival),” chief secretary K Shanmugam said in the order.
The order also asked the institutions to encourage the students to stay in nearby relatives houses and attend classes so that overcrowding will be avoided in hostels. Further, it also said that sharing of rooms should not be allowed in hostels. It also stated that there should be adequate isolation arrangements for those having symptoms and for those to test Covid-19 positive either at the level of institution or in collaboration with the government authorities.
The government also advised the universities and colleges to reduce the class size by splitting the strength into multiple sections. “Depending on the availability of the space in classrooms, up to 50% of students alone will be allowed on a rotation basis,” the order further said. “If some students opt not to attend classes and prefer to study online while staying at home, the institutions are to provide online study materials and access to e-resources,” it added.
The colleges are also asked to disinfect the classrooms and furniture and make arrangements for hand-washing, masks and checking the temperatures of students.
The order also allowed institutions to reopen for final year diploma and hotel management students.