Coronavirus: IIT Kanpur cancels classes, extends mid-semester recess

NEW DELHI: Yet another Indian Institute of Technology has suspended classes to fight the coronavirus pandemic. IIT Kanpur announced on Friday that it has “decided to extend the mid-semester recess (suspending all classes and exams)” till Sunday, March 29, 2020. It became the second IIT, after IIT Delhi, to do so.

"All the students who have gone home and are planning to return to the campus in the next few days are advised not to return to the campus", says a note from the director, Abhay Karandikar. Plus, both students who have already returned to the campus or are "returning from vacation" have been "strongly advised to contact the health centre".

Due to the prevailing situation concerning #COVID19, as a precautionary measure, the Institute has decided to extend the mid-semester recess (suspending all the classes & exams) till 29th March 2020 (Sunday).#coronavirusinindia pic.twitter.com/dxvWVSUMf5

— IIT Kanpur (@IITKanpur) March 13, 2020

Students already on campus have been advised to stay put and "avoid any travel outside the campus". Here is the full note sent by Karandikar to IIT Kanpur students.

The spread

IIT Kanpur has shut after IIT Delhi, Delhi University (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU Raipur) and several others chose to suspend classes. As Delhi colleges closed, DU went online. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infections has risen to 75 including one death in Karnataka. Uttar Pradesh, where IIT Kanpur is located, has seen 11 confirmed cases so far. The World Health Organisation has declared a coronavirus pandemic.

Also read:

• Coronavirus: Around 1.7 cr children at home as states close schools
• Coronavirus: After DU and IIT Delhi, JNU cancels classes till March 31

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