Bhubaneswar: Amid the Omicron sub-variant BF.7 scare, class X and XII students in Odisha will appear for their examinations abiding by COVID guidelines, informed School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash on Monday.
Dash said the students will appear for Summative Assessment-2 and Plus-2 exams at their respective institutions by wearing masks and will have to maintain social distancing.
Meanwhile, Health Director Bijay Mohapatra said there is no need to panic as COVID BF.7 variant was identified in the state two years back. But there has been no substantial rise in COVID positive rate for more than 3 months nor the number of patients affected by the virus has gone up in the hospitals.
“Since our state has been affected by all 4 waves of COVID, the people’s immunity capacity has been strengthened during the period. Hence, we have developed resistance to fight the new variant,” he said.
However, the Health director advised the people to remain extra careful, take precautionary measures, be cautious while going to public places, and avoid the crowd. “We are focusing on isolation, surveillance, and precautionary measures as per the guidelines issued by the Centre,” he added.