On-campus classes to remain suspended in all colleges, universities in Odisha from Jan 10

On-campus classes in all colleges, universities and technical education institutions in Odisha will remain suspended from January 10 in the wake of the rising cases of COVID-19, a notification from the state government stated recently.

However, all ongoing offline examinations will be allowed to continue as per the schedule in compliance with COVID-19 precautionary guidelines, the notification further said.

Schools in the state have already been shut down till the end of January and colleges will remain closed till February 1 to break the chain of infection. Coaching institutions, organisations and individuals offering tuition have also been directed to stop taking offline classes.

However, medical colleges, nursing colleges and institutions run by the health department will continue to operate, the order issued by the special relief commissioner's office read. The order was issued to contain the spread of the coronavirus, it added.

The authorities of colleges, universities and technical education institutions will have to take all appropriate measures for conducting online classes, the order further stated.

All hostels in such academic institutions will also remain closed and the students will be advised to avoid staying in the hostels in the interest of their personal health, it added.

Scholars, researchers and students who desire to stay in hostels for research and project works or other academic activities may be permitted to do so on furnishing an undertaking, the order said.

All teaching and non-teaching employees will work as per the existing guidelines for government employees and perform duty as assigned to them by the respective authorities, the order added.

Any person found violating the order will be punished under the provision of the Disaster Management Act,2005 and other relevant laws, it said.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar has also suspended all offline classes from January 10 till further instructions.

Several educational institutions in Odisha have reported a large number of COVID-19 cases on their campuses.

The Odisha government also imposed a night curfew from 9pm to 5am in the wake of the rising COVID-19 cases recently. The state reported more than 4,500 cases of COVID-19 on January 8.