The number of students and staff of SDM Medical College at Dharwad has raised on Thursday to 182 from 66 on Wednesday. It was suspected that it might be the another form the coronavirus as those tested positive were taken both the doses of the vaccine jab.

The madical college and hospital campus has been converted into “COVID Cluster” and the students’ hostels have been sealed. Most of the positives don’t have covid features and all have been quarantined.

Health Commissioner D Randeep said that the swab of the positives has been sent to Genome Sequencing to know whether it could be the other new form of the coronavirus.

The State Health Department will take the swab of around 3000 clinical and non-clinical staff of the hospital on Friday. More than 1000 people’s swab tested till Thursday.

The coronavirus outbreak after the gathering of students, their parents and staff for the function held to welcome the new students on “Freshers’ Day” on Nov 17.