After a college gala in Telangana, 43 medical students tested positive

At least 43 medical students at the Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences in Bommakal, Telangana’s Karimnagar district, have tested positive for COVID-19, requiring the campus’s closure and suspension of sessions.

The college’s annual day fest was held over a week ago, and it could have been the genesis of the virus’s spread.

Dr Juveria, the Karimnagar district medical and health officer, said the administration had not been told of the plan to hold a physical assembly of such a large number of people for the annual day celebration. During the event, many people were reportedly not wearing masks.

“A total of 200 persons have been tested so far.” On Monday, a special camp will be held to examine all 1,000 students on campus,” Dr Juveira added.

According to reports, 13 pupils tested positive on Saturday and another 26 on Sunday.

All pupils and staff have been tested, and a sanitation push has been conducted.

Dr. G Srinivas, Telangana’s public health director, predicted that more cases will arrive by mid-January and peak in February, noting that Omicron spreads six times quicker than delta.

Samples from 13 foreign passengers who tested positive in Hyderabad have been sent for genome sequencing, with findings anticipated today.

Even those who tested negative were requested to stay under home quarantine for 14 days and be checked on the eighth day of arrival. 979 travellers had come from 11 ‘at-risk’ nations.

Harish Rao, Telangana’s health minister, has written to the Centre, requesting that booster doses be made available to healthcare personnel, frontline workers, and disadvantaged populations. He also requested that vaccines for children be approved, as well as a reduction in the time between two Covishield doses from the current 12 weeks to between four and six weeks.