Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 21 (IANS): Even as numerous requests were made to postpone the Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical (KEAM) entrance examination which was held on July 16, the state government refused to do so and on Tuesday two students who wrote the exam in the state capital have tested positive for the coronavirus.

A third person, another student's father also has now turned Covid positive, said health authorities.

According to the authorities, a 19-year-old girl student hailing from the capital city was a secondary contact of a positive patient. She wrote the KEAM exam at an educational institution, here and now instructions have been sent to 20 students who appeared for the exam in the same hall, to go into isolation.

Another 18-year-old boy who wrote the exam in another educational institution here has also tested positive, but since he showed symptoms, he was asked to write the exam in a separate hall.

Likewise a 47-year-old father of a student, from here has also turned Covid positive and he remained outside the examination hall till the exam got over.

The invigilators and volunteers have also been directed to be in home quarantine.

Despite, numerous requests from various quarters, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was adamant to hold the KEAM as scheduled and after the examination got over, he had appreciated and congratulated all those who worked to see the exam went off well.