Burla: The authorities of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Tuesday decided to declare a hostel containment zone after 22 students tested positive for COVID-19.
Entry and exit to the hostel have been restricted while offline classes and practical classes have been suspended for 7 days, the sources said.
According to Dibya Darsan Tripathy, a 4th-year student, the authorities were requested to conduct a screening after a 1st-year girl student tested positive for the virus. “Later, 3-4 students were found infected. Besides, 6-7 students of the 4th year also tested positive for the infection,” he told a local channel.
Another 10-20 students were found positive on Monday and some of them are currently in the COVID isolation ward, he added.
All the infected students are fully vaccinated and had no early symptoms of the infection.
Also Read: 22 Students Test COVID Positive In Odisha’s VIMSAR Burla
Notably, UTKARSH-2021, the annual function of the medical college, was held on November 13 and 14 and it is suspected that this could have led to the spread of COVID-19.
Besides the event, House Surgeon president, Suraj, said that they could have contracted the virus from the patients. “Since three to four students share a room in the hostel, there is a chance of all getting infected if one of them contracts the virus,” he added.
Also Read: 53 Girl Students In Odisha’s Sundargarh Test COVID Positive