Medical colleges to resume physical classes from December 1
BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to reopen all medical and dental colleges for physical classes December 1.
The government on Friday also decided to have a fixed examination calendar for all the 11 medical colleges in the state.
Additional chief secretary (health) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said the decision was taken in view of the Centre’s advice on Wednesday. The ministry of health had written to all the states about reopening the colleges latest by December 1. The colleges, however, have to follow strict social distancing norms.
The college authorities said they were well prepared. Datteswar Hota, principal of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, said, “All the students will undergo a Covid test. While those who will test negative will be allowed to stay in hostels and attend the classes, the positive students will have to isolate themselves for two weeks.”
To contain the spread of the virus, the batch of 250 students will be divided into two groups. Each group, which will consists of 125 students, will sit in a lecture theatre with a capacity of 300 students to ensure social distancing. “The lecture theatres will be sanitized after each class. Hand sanitizers are being placed at the entrance points. If anyone is found not wearing a mask, s/he will not be allowed to enter the class,” the SCB principal added.
Students have welcomed the move. “I feel that classes will finally commence. Clinical postings should have started a few months earlier. Being medical students, we have to learn a lot of lessons from the pandemic itself. This opportunity should not be lost. The decision on having fixed examination dates was long overdue because our exams are running behind the schedule,” said Manas Ranjan Sahu, an MBBS fourth-year student of VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.