Let students with flu-like symptoms not go to school: Odisha top health official

Bhubaneswar: Following detection of several COVID-19 infections in Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla in Sambalpur and a Government-run school in Sundargarh, Director of Odisha Public Health Niranjan Mishra today advised school students having flu-like symptoms to refrain themselves from attending offline classes.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mishra said possibility of severity is less for college students as most of them have been vaccinated against the virus. However, schoolkids are still vulnerable to the disease, he said.

The health official further directed authorities of schools and colleges across the state to keep a check on students with COVID symptoms and ensure compliance of  all safety norms in their respective educational institutions.

Also Read: 53 students of Govt school in Odisha’s Sundargarh test COVID positive

“There is nothing to panic. Currently, COVID-19 is on a downward trend in the state. Awareness is the key to curb spread of the virus,” he stated.

Regarding detection of positive cases in two educational institutions in Sambalpur and Sundargarh, Mishra said all the infectees have been kept under isolation and the respective local administrations have kept a close watch on the situation.

Echoing the same, Health Director Bijay Mohapatra said, “Situation is likely to worsen in coming days if people show casual attitude towards the safety norms. And, the Government will be forced to take strict measures, including announcement of containment zones.”