Alarm in Odisha as 31 students of NISER test +ve

As many as 31 students at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar have tested positive for Covid-19, informed the state administration on Tuesday.

As per initial reports, most of the infected students are from outside Odisha and all of them have been asked to remain in isolation at hostels in the institute campus.

The local Khurda district administration officials said that the conditions of the students were stable and there were no reasons to worry.

“All the infected students are in good spirits and there are no reasons to worry,” the administration said.

Containment zone restrictions have been clamped in the campus as per protocol and adequate measures will be taken for the Covid-19 test of other students and staff at the institute.

Odisha registered a steep rise in Covid-19 infections after 680 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours. Monday’s daily caseload is the highest single-day count registered in the last three months in Odisha.

Sources said the state government may declare some additional restrictions, in addition to the night curfew and present pandemic guidelines after a review meeting by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik later in the evening. Meanwhile, amid rising Omicron cases, health experts in Odisha have warned people to maintain caution as the number of Covid-19 cases is likely to surge in the State in the coming days.

“Currently, Covid-19 is witnessing an upward surge in the state. Considering the rising number of cases in the neighbouring states, it is most likely that Odisha too will witness more cases in the near future,” said Bijay Mohapatra, director of health services.