Covid-19: Cough, cold or fever? Karnataka schools told to send home students with such symptoms

With COVID-19 cases rising in South India, Karnataka’s health department has issued an advisory instructing schools to send children showing symptoms like fever, cough, or cold back home, ensuring strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols to curb the spread.

Chetana Belagere

Published May 31, 2025 | 2:43 PM ⚊ Updated May 31, 2025 | 5:52 PM

Covid 19 preventive advisory. (Supplied)

Synopsis: Amid a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, Karnataka’s Health Department issued an advisory urging schools to send home symptomatic students and staff. India reported 2,710 active cases as of 30 May, with Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu most affected. The surge is linked to Omicron subvariants. States are boosting preparedness, but officials stress current strains are less virulent and urge calm.

Karnataka Health Department, following the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, has issued an advisory to schools as a preventive measure.

The advisory told schools to instruct parents against sending their wards to school if they have symptoms of Covid-19 and also send them back home if they come to school with cold, cough and fever.

As of 30 May, India is witnessing a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, with active infections reaching 2,710. Southern states, particularly Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, are among the most affected.

Kerala leads with 1,147 active cases, followed closely by Karnataka with 234 and Tamil Nadu reporting 148 active cases.

Also Read: First 2025 Covid death in Tamil Nadu; Health officials call it ‘accidental finding’

Schools told to send sick children back home

In the advisory, the Karnataka’s Department of Health and Family Welfare, ahead of the resumption of schools in the month of June, issued the following instructions:

If school children develop fever, cough, cold and other symptoms, do not send them to school and follow appropriate treatment and care measures as advised by the doctor.
Send children to school only after the said symptoms have completely recovered.
If children come to school with fever, cough, cold and other symptoms, inform the parents and send such children home.
Further, if school teachers and non-teaching staff develop fever, cough, cold and other symptoms, appropriate precautionary measures should be taken.
However, precautions such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette etc. should be ensured and Covid-19 Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) should be followed.

The advisory has been signed by the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, KB Shivakumar.

Healthcare workers advised vigilance and reporting

In response to the rising cases, Karnataka’s Department of Health and Family Welfare released a detailed advisory on 31 May for managing healthcare workers (HCWs) in both Covid and non-Covid areas of hospitals.

ILI/SARI Surveillance:

Routinely screen and report ILI and SARI cases, including any such cases with comorbidities, in the P-Form on the IDSP-IHIP platform.
Ensure referral of all SARI cases and 5 percent of ILI cases for RT-PCR testing for Covid-19 at designated facilities, as per the testing guidelines issued from time to time by MD-NHM. Samples should be shipped on the same day to enable timely testing.
If found symptomatic, compulsory testing should be conducted for high-risk groups, including children, pregnant women, and elderly people.

Laboratory Reporting:

Ensure timely uploading of testing data on the IHIP portal.
Track positivity rates and cycle threshold (Ct) value trends.

Genomic and Environmental Surveillance:

Facilitate the referral of samples from Covid-19 positive SARI cases to designated regional VRDLs for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in line with INSACOG protocols.
Coordinate with local authorities for sewage surveillance, where applicable.

Data and Reporting:

As all healthcare workers are already trained, they are able to recognise the signs and symptoms and should therefore ensure immediate reporting of such symptoms.
Submit daily reports on cases, recoveries, and hospitalisations (including oxygen, ICU, and ventilator status).
Contribute to weekly reports on epidemiological trends and WGS submissions.

IEC:

IEC activity should be undertaken to promote community observance of hand and respiratory hygiene, and hygienic behaviour such as cough etiquette (covering mouth or nose while coughing or sneezing), avoiding spitting in public places, etc.
Special consideration groups, like the elderly and people with immunodeficiency conditions, may be advised to avoid poorly ventilated or crowded places, or to use face masks in such environments.

Infection Control:

A Nodal Officer (Infection Control Officer) shall be identified by each health facility to address all matters related to healthcare-associated infections.
Ensure immediate activation of the Hospital Infection Control Committee (HICC).
Follow updated infection prevention protocols. Healthcare workers in different hospital settings shall use appropriate PPE according to their risk profile. Any breach in PPE usage or exposure should be immediately reported to the Nodal Officer.

General Precautions:

Ensure that all preventive measures – such as regular thermal screening, frequent handwashing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser, and observance of respiratory etiquette – are consistently followed.

Also Read: Karnataka urges people to stay calm amid fears due to Covid-19 death in Bengaluru

Public advisory emphasises calm, cooperation, and hygiene

The government has also released a public advisory aimed at engaging citizens in surveillance and prevention.

Stay alert, not anxious: Stay informed through official sources; avoid unverified information.
Share information with health staff: Inform authorities about travellers from abroad for necessary follow-up.
Practise responsible behaviour: Wear masks in crowded places, maintain physical distancing, and practise good hygiene.
Report symptoms early: Seek medical advice immediately if experiencing fever, cough, chest pain, or breathing difficulty.
Support testing and surveillance: Cooperate with random testing and allow sample collection for surveillance purposes.
Community monitoring: Report unusual increases in Covid-19-like symptoms via the Community Monitoring tool on the IHIP portal.
Surveillance at schools: Keep sick children at home, monitor pupils for symptoms, promote hygiene, and ensure proper ventilation.
Hygiene and environmental awareness: Practise good hygiene, dispose of waste properly, and keep public areas clean.
Government response: The government is on alert; lead a normal life but follow official advisories.
Helpline numbers: Call the toll-free helpline 1800 425 8330 for health advice, and dial 108 for emergency patient transport.

Also Read: As COVID-19 cases rise, should you consider a booster vaccine?

Surge in cases

This uptick in cases is attributed to the emergence of new Omicron subvariants, notably NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, which are believed to have higher transmissibility rates.

Since January 2025 there have been total of 22 deaths with the deceased testing positive for Covid-19. Amongst this Karnataka saw three deaths and in all three cases those who died were the elderly and were being treated in the hospitals for their comorbid condition. The health department has clarified that the finding of Covid-19 in all three cases were incidental.

Meanwhile Tamil Nadu also has reported a death, of a 60-year-old man with known type 2 diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Ma Subramanian, Minister for Health and Family Welfare of Tamil Nadu, clarified that, “He died to his comorbid conditions and not due to Covid 19.”

State responses and preventive measures

In response to the rising cases, the Union Health Ministry has requested all states and union territories to submit detailed reports on their Covid-19 preparedness by 2 June. States are ramping up testing, ensuring adequate stock of RT-PCR kits, and reinforcing hospital infrastructure to manage potential surges.

Tamil Nadu has directed district health officials to enforce public health standards rigorously at large gatherings, including religious and cultural events. Under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939, authorities have the power to restrict movement and prohibit gatherings if necessary. Event organisers are mandated to provide essential services like sanitation and potable water, with local authorities overseeing compliance.

Ma Subramaniam told media on Saturday, 31 May, that the state has sufficient bed and oxygen facilities. “Separate wards have been already allocated specifically for this purpose in all district and taluk headquarters hospitals, as well as medical college hosptials.”

Meanwhile, he requested the public to not believe or spread rumours and reiterated that now-spreading Covid-19 variants are less virulent. “There is no need for panic. Follow the usual safety measures and that is sufficient,” Ma Subramiam added.

(Edited by Sumavarsha).