At least 543 children between the age group of 0-18 have tested positive for coronavirus in Bengaluru around August 1 and 11. These leading cases have created a panic situation among the parents and state authorities. The rising number of coronavirus cases have brought back the focus on the earlier prediction that the third wave could affect children and that the infection is spreading among them at a faster rate.
According to the lasted BBMP bulletin recorded between August 1 and 11, about 88 children in the 0-9 year age group, and 305 children in the 10-19 year age group tested positive for coronavirus. About 263 were reported in past five days among the 499 new cases, and out of these, 88 are aged below 9 years. About 175 cases have been found in children aged between 10 and 19.
After the Karnataka government announced that it may reopen schools for students studying in Classes 9-12 by August-end, this development came up.
Meanwhile, according to an officer from the health department, the number will “triple” within a few days and “there is a great danger”. A night and weekend curfew in all districts has been already ordered by the Karnataka government, while the entries to Kerala-Karnataka, Maharashtra-Karnataka borders have been restricted. Only those who can show their RTPCR test of fewer than 72 hours are allowed to enter the state.
The government is likely to execute a partial lockdown from August 16, according to sources.
During the shocking second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which battered the country with people dying due to lack of oxygen and in search for hospital beds, experts had warned that the possible third wave will affect the kids more. This assumption was based on the common thought that the virus attacks people who are not invulnerable.
“All we can do is protect our children from this virus by keeping them inside the home. Children will not have much immunity compared to elder ones. It is highly recommended to parents that they keep children inside the home and follow all the Covid-19 norms,” the official had told News18.
However, the Union Health Ministry officials have often stated that there is no evidence that suggests that children will be affected more in the next wave of the infection.
While, addressing concerns around the impact of the third coronavirus wave on children, Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, had said in June: “It may not be true that children will be disproportionately affected in the third wave as the serosurvey shows seropositivity was almost equal in all age groups. But the government is not leaving any stone unturned in terms of preparations.
Karnataka has been recording around 1,500 daily new cases in the last month, and the newly inducted chief minister Basavaraja Bommai has promised to increase the vaccine doses from around 65 lakh to 1 crore per month.