Cluster Outbreak Of COVID In Yet Another Educational Institution In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Amid the Omicron and third wave threat, another cluster outbreak of COVID-19 was reported from an educational institution in Odisha on Monday.

According to sources, several students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Kaptipada of Mayurbhanj district have tested positive during the antigen test. Following detection of these cases, a medical team from Kaptipada was soon rushed to the educational institution to collect samples from all students, teachers and other staff for the RT-PCR test.

Allaying fear of the spread of the virus, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Dash said that isolated cases of COVID are being reported from educational institutions and these will have no impact on the overall study atmosphere.

“Physical classes are being conducted in accordance with the SOP and the district administrations are conducting rapid testing wherever necessary. All measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the students,” he said.

He added that there are no plans to change the school timings in view of COVID infection.

In the past one week, over 200 students have been infected by the virus in various educational institutions, including VIMSAR, Burla, across the state.

The third week of November saw 53 inmates of a Plus II residential school in Sundargarh district testing positive. Subsequently, samples of over 74 students from VIMSAR, Burla, 56 students of a private residential college at Kunjakanta in Dhenkanal, 25 students from a residential school in Thakurmunda in Mayurbhanj, nine girls from Dasrathpur in Jajpur and 10 inmates of a hostel in Angul were also found infected.

Ten students of a government-run girl’s school in Odisha’s Balangir district also tested positive for COVID-19.

On December 10, more than 12 teachers in Kendriya Vidyalaya-1 and two students in Capital High School in Bhubaneswar were found infected.