Yellapur: As many as 21 students studying in YTSS Education Society’s Kannada School in Yellapur and two teachers tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.

As one SSLC student of the school had contracted the virus a few days back, swab samples of all SSLC students and teachers were sent for testing, and on Monday, it was confirmed that 21 students and two teachers too had Covid-19. Swab samples of primary and secondary contacts too will be sent for tests.

7 more students affected

Meanwhile, seven more students studying in Atal Bihari Vajapayee Residential School in Ron in Gadag district tested positive for Covid-19. With this, the total number of people affected by Covid-19 in this school increased to 26. This includes 23 students and three cooks.

On Monday, parents of the students staged a demonstration pleading that they be allowed to take their children home. “There is no water here and our children will die if they are left here. We will get them treated in private hospitals if they suffer Covid-19,” they contended. When Gadag Assistant Commissioner Rayappa Hunasigi tried to pacify them, they took the administration to task. At a parent’s meeting held later, the parents said that they were apprehensive about their children’s safety in the school and so, the children must be sent home.

District Health Officer Satish Basarigida said that as per government guidelines, those staying in the containment zone must be monitored for at least seven days. After that, the students will be tested once again and can be sent home if they test negative.

He added that the students had already been relocated to two hostels and were under the supervision of a doctor, staff nurse, health worker and five members of health department. So, parents need not fear.