Amid the emergent fears of the third wave in Lucknow, COVID-19 infection has found its grip on city colleges - heightening the pandemic threat. Nearly 40 students, all hostellers, from the Institute of Engineering and Technology in Lucknow, have tested coronavirus positive on Wednesday, pushing the authorities to postpone the examination schedule. Hostels have been vacated here with immediate effect.

As per reports, a similar situation was also faced at Lucknow University, where a few hostel inmates tested positive. Orders have been circulated to vacate hostels here as well.

Exams postponed at IET

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All of the 12 hostels at the IET in Lucknow were vacated immediately in wake of the spiked COVID-19 transmission here. Of the 40 cases traced here, around 14 inmates have been quarantined in the dorms, while the other 26 left with their guardians to be under home isolation. The remaining 660 hostellers are either staying behind or are in the process of leaving as a precautionary measure.

According to a senior health official from the CMO officer, the COVID case positivity rate at IET alone stands at 5.71%. Around 700 hostel inmates were sampled here for testing, where 40 positive reports have raised caution.

Consequently, IET Director Prof Vineet Kansal, said, "Examination has been postponed with immediate effect after our students tested positive. We have quarantined 14 students in three boys' hostels and one girls' hostel. Other students who tested positive were allowed to go with their parents for home isolation on the guardians' request."

IET exams were earlier to be held from January 11 to January 24, however, the final schedule has now been deferred until the COVID-19 situation here improves. "Several students were staying in the hostel as our semester examination were being conducted. However, we received an email from our director saying that all examinations have been deferred till further notice, so we are leaving," said a B.Tech student.

LU orders first-sem students to vacate hostels

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Meanwhile, Lucknow University also faced similar perils as few hostellers tested positive. The University management has asked all first-semester students, across all UG and PG programmes to immediately vacate hostels and head home, in line with COVID caution. While the COVID tally here was limited, a number of students in the hostels were running a high temperature, indicating the infection.

Reportedly, Lucknow on Wednesday logged-in the highest share of COVID cases found across the state. According to a COVID-19 Summary Report of 24 hours released on January 12, around 13,681 fresh infections were recorded in Uttar Pradesh with the largest spike of 2,181 cases coming from Lucknow. While 58 were discharged on Wednesday, zero morbidity was reported, bringing partial respite to the city.