At least 43 medical students from the Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences in Bommakal in the Karimnagar district of Telangana have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing authorities to suspend classes and close the campus.
The college had its annual party over a week ago and that could have been the source of the spread of the virus.
Karimnagar District doctor and health official Dr Juveria said the government had not been notified of the intention to hold a physical gathering of so many people for the annual day. Many apparently did not wear masks during the function.
“So far 200 people have been tested. On Monday there will be a special camp to test the 1,000 people on campus,” said Dr Juveira.
Reports say 13 students tested positive on Saturday while another 26 tested positive on Sunday.
All students and staff are tested and a sanitation campaign has been carried out.
Telangana’s director of public health Dr G Srinivas said he expects more cases to occur by mid-January and peak by February, stressing that Omicron is spreads six times faster than delta.
Samples from 13 passengers who came from overseas to Hyderabad and tested positive have been sent for genome sequencing and the results are expected by today.
979 passengers had arrived from 11 ‘at risk’ countries and even those who tested negative were asked to stay in home quarantine for 14 days and be tested on the 8th day of their arrival.
Telangana’s Health Minister Harish Rao has written to the Center asking them to consider allowing booster doses to healthcare workers, frontline workers and vulnerable groups. He also asked about the approval of vaccines for children and reducing the gap between two doses of Covishield from the current 12 weeks to between four and six weeks.
