VIMSAR COVID-19 Tally Crosses 40; Containment Zone Declared, Classes Suspended

Sambalpur: The COVID-19 tally at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla in Odisha’s Sambalpur district crossed 40 as more students of the college tested positive for the virus, reports said.

MBBS 2nd year, 3rd year and 4th year students are among the infected ones.

In view of the situation, the VIMSAR authorities have decided to conduct the internal examinations for 1st and 2nd semesters via online mode.

This apart, all offline classes at VIMSAR have been suspended for the next 10 days.

On the other hand, Sabitri Girls Hostel, Gargi Girls Hostel, Charak Hostel, Bhrugu Hostel and Patanjali Hostel of VIMSAR have been declared as Micro Containment Zone by the District Administration for active contact tracing and prevention of the possible transmission of the virus.

Similarly, Staff Quarters, Apala Girls Hostel, Atreya Hostel, Biswamitra Hostel and Markandeya Hostel of VIMSAR have been declared as Buffer Zone.

As many as 22 students of VIMSAR had initially tested positive for COVID-19, days after a college function.

As per reports, UTKARSH-2021, annual function of the medical college, was held on November 13 and 14. While hundreds of medical students attended the event, many of them violated COVID-19 guidelines by not wearing masks and not resorting to social distancing.

Several students complained of illness, following which they went to the OPD of the hospital. After examining the symptoms, doctors at the healthcare facility asked them to undergo COVID-19 antigen test.

The infected students have been kept under isolation while their health condition was being monitored by doctors of the hospital.