Dear all,
One student of the 39th batch was found to be
positive for COVID after RAT done as she had few symptoms. She was doing
pre-professorial medical appointments at the moment and the
arrangements were made to send her to a treatment centre.
On
investigation it was revealed that four girls had close contact with
her and there was clear risk behavior including cooking together without
masks and eating in the same plate. Health authorities advised me to
isolate those four students and to continue the appointments for the
rest of the students. As there is no need for the Faculty to take
responsibility of their irresponsible behavior I contacted those parents
and requested them to take those students home for home quarantine.
However out of the three I could contact yesterday two of them were
unable to do so due to financial constraints, traveling restrictions and
due to the fact one family being affected with Covid. They are from
Balangoda. I obliged to keep them in the hostels provided that the
batch mates can supply the meals without getting contaminated. The
warden and sub wardens will monitor the process. Subsequently I informed
the other father from Embilipitiya who agreed to take his daughter home
not to come if there are difficulties and he was very grateful as he
said that it will be difficult for him to find a behavior. However I
have informed the parents that they will have to leave the hostels when
the quarantine period is completed.
I think that
the Faculty should not tolerate this type of irresponsible, stupid
behavior which could be harmful for all of us. Please note that it was
only a week ago that I have specifically warned them in eating as
groups.
Sending this for your information about the
reality of the situation we have face due to the lack of
responsibility of the medical students in the Faculty. In the meantime I
need your fullest corporation to prevent this type of suicidal and
murderous behavior of the medical students for the benefit of all the
innocent students who behave wisely and of the staff.
(Please note that this letter is circulated among the members of the academic staff and the VC and DVC.)
Thank you
-- Professor Vasantha Devasiri
Dean Faculty of Medicine,
University of Ruhuna.
28/08/2021