A medical college in Dharwad, Karnataka, has closed down two of its hostel blocks after 59 students and seven teaching staff tested positive for Covid-19.

They were found to be positive after a routine Covid test following the annual cultural festival at SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital in the central Karnataka city.

Dharwad district health officer Dr Yashwanth A. Madinkar told The Telegraph on Thursday that all of them had mild symptoms. “They have all been isolated at the college hostel itself. Their primary contacts have also been quarantined as a precautionary measure,” he said.

The two college blocks accommodating them have been sealed until further orders. “Although there is nothing to worry, we are closely monitoring the situation,” Madinkar said.

Around 400 students and staff were tested for Covid-19 a few days ago after the three-day event.

“More results are awaited by tomorrow (Friday) evening,” Madinkar said.

Physical classes have been suspended until further notice.

Dharwad deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil, who visited the campus on Thursday, told reporters that the decision to shut down the hostels was taken as the positive cases had been accommodated in the buildings.

He said all those who had tested positive had already received two doses of vaccine and were all first-year MBBS students from other states.

A college source, who declined to be named, told this newspaper that police had been deployed to ensure no one left or entered the sealed hostel blocks.

“The health department is in touch with us to ensure those who are in isolation and quarantine are provided food and medical care,” he said.