Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela authorities have asked the students of the educational institution who tested negative for COVID-19 to vacate hostels, informed Registrar Pradip Kumar Das today.

On the other hand, those who came in contact with the COVID-19 positive students have been directed to stay in hostels as they and other students will undergo COVID-19 test, he said.

Around 2000 students are currently residing in the hostels while COVID-19 test of close to 400 students has been carried out. The NIT authorities have requested the district administration to deploy more medical teams for the testings.

So far, 14 persons have contracted the virus in the campus. The infected students have been placed under isolation and are undergoing treatment.

NIT, Rourkela had on March 21 organised its 18th annual convocation ceremony, which was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind.