Commotion in HPU after prof tests +ve

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 22

There was commotion in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) after an assistant professor, who was on examination duty in the law department, tested positive for Covid-19 today. She was on duty on September 19 and got tested on September 20.

Was on exam duty in law department

• She was part of the HP University Teachers Association (HPUTA) elections
• Teachers are apprehensive as the assistant professor had also came in contact with many people during the elections of the HPUTA, which were held on Monday
• She was also elected to the executive body of the association

She had come in contact with the students, who appeared for examination in her class, besides her colleagues and other staff. Teachers are apprehensive as she also came in contact with many people during the elections of the Himachal Pradesh University Teachers Association (HPUTA), which were held on Monday. She was also elected to the executive body of the association.

HPU Vice-Chancellor Prof Sikander Kumar said her primary contacts, including the superintendent and deputy superintendent, and other staff on duty, had been directed to stay in seven-day isolation. The centre had been sanitised.

About 25 students, who appeared for the examination, will have the choice to continue taking the examinations or appear again when these will be conducted for students who could not appear due to Covid-19, he added.

DC Amit Kashyap said the CMO had been told to do the contact tracing of the patient so that the primary contacts could be quarantined.

The incident has once again raised questions on the safety of students and teachers when restrictions have been removed and free movement has been allowed in the state.