Bhubaneswar: Student Community and the Management of the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla have heaved a sigh of relief after the students of the institution, who were found positive for the COVID-19 in the rapid antigen test, were tested negative during the RT-PCR test.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Health and Family Welfare Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra has confirmed that all the 25 VSSUT students, who have tested COVID-19 Positive during the rapid antigen test between 25-27 February subsequently, tested negative to the infection.
It was confirmed with tests like RT-PCR. The test reports which had come out earlier were false as the antigen kits were faulty, he said adding that the test kits will be withdrawn and the Health Department will verify the same.
The students who were earlier tested positive had been kept under isolation in a hostel which was lying vacant and intensive contact tracing was carried out. Moreover, the varsity also started online classes for students instead of physical cases.
On the other hand, the District Administration of Sambalpur declared all the 11 hostels including the ladies hostels of the institution as micro containment zones besides the adjacent area of the Pulaha hostel of the varsity as buffer zone.
Even the authorities of the University postponed the examination of the final year students of the institution, which was scheduled to be held March 1, as the hostels of the Tech varsity were declared as containment zones.
Vice-Chancellor in-charge of the varsity, B.B. Pati said: “I came to know that the students, who were found positive in rapid antigen test, have been tested negative in RT PCR test. It is obviously good news that our students have tested negative for the Covid-19. However, we
are yet to get any official information in this regard, he said.
On the containment zone, the Vice Chancellor said that the district administration will take decision on withdrawing the order of the containment zone.
PD DRDA, Sambalpur, Sukanta Tripathy also said that they have not got any official communication about the RT PCR tests. However, he said, if the students had been tested negative for the Covid-19, the containment zone order would be withdrawn, he added.
Meanwhile, the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd (OSMCL) has issued a show cause notice to the two suppliers of the RAT kits. The RAT kits were procured from two firms, one based in New Delhi and another in Haryana.
“You are hereby called upon to show cause as to why OSMCL shall not take action against your firm for supply of defective/non-standard Rapid Antigen Detection Kits for SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19), within 3 (Three) days from issue of this notice,” the OSMCL’s General Manager (Operation-Equipment) said in a letter to the New Delhi based firm.
