Odisha: 31 teachers, two students test positive for COVID-19 in Gajapati after schools reopen

After the re-opening of schools in Odisha, 31 teachers and students have tested positive for COVID-19 in Gajapati district, informed Dr Pradeep Kumar Patra, Chief District Medical Officer on Sunday.

"As many as 31 new infections detected in the district. Among them 90 percent are teachers and they would be barred from attending schools," ANI quoted Patra as saying.

"All the teachers underwent COVID-19 tests as per the standard operating procedure before the reopening of the schools. Two students have also tested positive for the coronavirus," he added.

Schools reopened for students of Class 10 and 12 in Odisha on January 8, after remaining closed for over 9 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As per the decision of the Odisha Government, students of Classes 10 and 12 are to attend classes non-stop for 100 days, except Saturdays and Sundays for Board examination preparation. Only Observation Days will be holidays.

Classes will be held for Class 10 students from January 8 to April 26 and Class 12 students will attend their classes from January 8 to April 28.

The Odisha government had earlier said frequent health check-ups would be conducted in educational institutions across the state for Covid-19 after the reopening of schools and colleges.

As per the SOP, students will attend schools with the written consent of parents but attendance will not be enforced.

Parents have to ensure they take responsibility of the child's commute to school. No student will be coerced to come to school. Only those parents and students who feel comfortable attending school should do so.

All the classrooms will be sanitised every day after the closure of the school. A maximum of 25 students would be allowed to sit in each classroom, the standard operating protocol stated.

Schools without 100% access to potable drinking water and adequate functional toilets for all students have not been allowed to reopen. Hostel facilities have not been opened.

Board of Secondary Education (BSE) will conduct the High School Certificate (HSC) examinations from May 3 to May 15. The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) will conduct the 12th examinations between May 15 and June 11.

According to the state government, the colleges and universities for final year students in the state will reopen from today. Odisha has 1,928 active COVID-19 cases, as per the Union Health Ministry's Sunday bulletin.

(With ANI inputs)