29 Students Of West Bengal School Test Positive For Covid-19

According to sources acquainted with the situation, the affected students are from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Kalyani's classes 9 and 10.

Representational Image. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi:  At least 29 students of a residential school in West Bengal's Nadia district have tested positive for Covid-19.

According to sources, the affected students are from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kalyani, and belong to Class 9 and Class 10. Thirteen boys and 16 girls tested Covid positive. 

School officials have urged the parents of the infected students to take them home, PTI reported. So far, the infected students have displayed symptoms such as cough and cold and have been advised home quarantine.

The Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Kalyani, Hirak Mandal, said other students of the school and teachers were also being tested for Covid-19.

Following a year of shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the West Bengal government reopened schools for students of classes 9 to 12 and colleges for offline classes from November 16.

Amid the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, parents have expressed concern over schools reopening for students. The government has yet not rolled out vaccination for children.

Last week, 18 pupils at a school in Navi Mumbai's Ghansoli district tested positive for the virus, prompting the institution's closure.

Meanwhile, more than 200 people in the nation have been infected with the Omicron variant. The new variant, which was originally discovered in South Africa last month, is to blame for the majority of new cases recorded across Europe, prompting the introduction of tight restrictions ahead of Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

Omicron has also sparked discussion in India and abroad about the necessity for booster doses. Concerns have also been expressed about the immunisation of children and teens.

Curbs and guidelines have been announced by several state governments to deflect the resurgence of third wave.