At least 53 students of a girls’ high school in Sundergarh district have tested positive for Covid-19. All the students belong to a government aided school in the region.
As per preliminary reports, the students, who have been tested positive for Covid-19, are studying in classes 8, 9 and 10, informed headmistress of the school.
Covid test of the students were conducted after majority of them showed symptoms of cold and cough, she said. The concerned headmistress further said that already instructions have been issued for the closure of the educational institution for a week as per the protocol.
"Initially two students tested positive for Covid-19 on November 20 and the matter was informed to the CDMO for testing of other students in school and the tests were conducted on November 21 and 22. Subsequently, 53 students were tested positive for Covid-19 and their condition is stable," said the headmistress of the school.
Earlier, 22 medical students of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla were tested positive for COVID-19 . All the positives are reportedly the 2nd year girl students of the institute and they have been admitted to the Covid hospital.
Around 10-20 students were found positive on Monday and some of them are currently in Covid isolation ward while others are in home isolation. It is suspected that the recently held annual function has led to the Covid-19 spread in VIMSAR.
Even though the overall Covid-19 graph is on a declining trend, there seems to be no let up in the positivity rate, especially in the 0 to 18 years category.
Out of the total 212 new Covid-19 cases that were reported from different parts of the State on Tuesday, 70 cases are in the age group of 0 to 18 years. Khordha district reported maximum 90 new Covid-19 cases, followed by 39 in Sundergarh and 13 new cases from Mayurbhanj district.