29 students of Telangana residential school tested positive for Covid-19 (Representational image)
Highlight
- During the last two days, cases were reported in schools and junior colleges in Wayra city.
- The incident prompted the authorities to adopt COVID-19 preventive measures in residential schools.
- About 550 students are studying in the school and junior college
At least 29 students of a government residential school and girls’ junior college in Telangana were found to be Covid-19 positive, triggering panic among parents and teachers.
The cases were reported during the last two days at the school and junior college in Vaira town of Telangana’s Khammam district, officials said.
All the students were tested by the school authorities after some students showed suspicious symptoms.
Distressed parents rushed to the school and took their children home. District Medical and Health Officer Dr B Malathi said that those who have tested positive are fine.
The official said the students who tested positive were taken home by their parents for home quarantine and they were all fine.
The parents of the students who tested negative also took them home as a precautionary measure. Some parents pulled up the school authorities for the delay in providing this information.
This is the first time that such a large number of students have tested positive after residential schools reopened in the state last month.
The incident prompted the authorities to adopt COVID-19 preventive measures in residential schools.
Senior officials from various departments visited the school and asked the school authorities to ensure strict adherence to preventive measures like maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks and use of sanitizers.
About 550 students are studying in the school and junior college. Some parents said that the Covid spread due to overcrowding.
There are only 16 rooms for 450 students of classes 5 to 10. Forty students sleep in each room after classes. The dining hall has a capacity of only 200 students.
School principal Lakshmi said that the proposal for construction of more buildings is pending with the authorities.
Educational institutions in Telangana reopened from September 1. However, the High Court allowed the reopening of residential schools in the last week of October after the education department had assured to take all preventive measures.
(with IANS inputs)
Read also: 212 people, including 80 students, test positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram
Read also: 8,488 COVID cases reported in India, 249 deaths in 24 hours; Recovery rate 98.31 percent
,