NEHU VC tests positive for COVID; students air concern

SHILLONG, June 23: Concern loomed among students after North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, on Thursday tested positive for COVID-19, just two days after he attended a programme as part of International Yoga Day celebrations.
The condition of the VC, who is admitted at Nazareth Hospital, is stable, an official at the hospital informed.
It may be mentioned that Prof Shukla on Tuesday attended the International Yoga Day celebrations, organised by the University Yoga Committee and National Service Scheme (NSS) cell of the university, as the chief guest.
A significant number of teaching and non-teaching staff, and students from different departments of NEHU along with NSS volunteers were part of the programme.
No sooner did the news of the VC testing positive for COVID-19 came to the fore than it triggered apprehensions among the students.
According to them, a significant number of people had come into contact with Prof Shukla during the programme.
To make the matters worse, many attendees were not wearing face masks, the students informed.
When contacted, a health official said that random testing and contact tracing have been done away with as per the latest guidelines of the Centre, issued in February.