By Purushottam Nayak

Bhubaneswar: The campus of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), was on March 22 sealed after the outbreak of at least 23 positive cases in the past 24 hours.

“Some first year students have been tested Covid positive. We have sealed the campus in the larger interest of public interest and to contain further spread of the virus,” Father Augustine Ezhakunnel, the institute’s registrar, told Matters India.

He said those tested positive have been quarantined. “Rest of the students have gone back to home,” Father Ezhakunnel explained.

Meanwhile, the institute is conducting the Covid test in the campus. “No one is allowed to go out or come in. The Institute is arranging to take care of Covid positive patients. Everyone inside the campus will undergo the Covid test,” the priest added.

Earlier, a team from Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) rushed to the XIMB and sanitized the entire campus and sealed the premises until further orders. Around 700 students, faculty and staff are now residing on the institute campus.

Municipal Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary said the corporation will ensure the supply of essentials and medical requirements if required.

The civic body has ordered those who test positive for Covid-19 on the campus should be kept in isolation in separate rooms of a single hostel. They will be kept under observation of the Institute authority. The institute will make necessary arrangements of food for the patients on time by adhering to Covid norms.

The students and staff found positive in subsequent tests will also be kept in the same hostel under isolation. In case of any medical emergency, institute authority have been asked to contact the BMC control Room or the Zonal Deputy Commissioner (North). The BMC has also closed all other institutions located within the boundary of the Jesuit institute, a top educational institution in the capital city of Odisha state in eastern India.

BMC deputy commissioner and nodal officer for Covid-19 management Suvendu Sahoo said contact tracing is in progress to check spread of the virus.

After the state government allowed reopening of higher education institutions in February, XIMB too resumed classes. However, all students who returned to the campus were first tested and quarantined before physical classes resumed.

The source of infection is being ascertained.