Bengaluru: In the past week (5 to 11 August), a total of 143 children in the age group of 0-9 years were tested positive for Covid-19 in Bengaluru.
The image translates to around 5.6% of a total of 2,552 cases reported in the capital of Karnataka during the period.
Pointing this as proof and crashing into rumors who suggested cases of soaring among children, Bruhat Bengalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP) official said there was no steep increase in new cases among children.
They say most of the children tested positive for infection are the main contacts of covid positive adults.
The doctor also confirmed that there was no increase in acceptance to ICU beds for pediatric patients.
Toi analyzed children’s data under nine years tested positive between July 1 and August 11 (six weeks) and found that they contributed 4.2% or 748 out of a total of 17,719 positive cases registered in Bengaluru during this period.
Of a total of 350 to 400 new cases reported in Bengaluru every day, around 20 to 26 are children who test positive infections.
Dr.
Basavaraj GV, a member of the Pediatric Clinical Expert Committee founded by the Ministry of Health and the Welfare of the State Family, said these numbers only suggested “little” increased Covid cases among children.
“But it shouldn’t be a cause of worries for parents,” said Dr.
Basavaraj.
“Instead, it must be seen as an opportunity to improve training for medical personnel and increase infrastructure for pediatric critical care.” He said children would be vulnerable like adults who were not vaccinated during the third wave and were not true that they would be the most affected must be the third wave of infection struck.
No ICU treatment CAREDIRA Gandhi Institute of Child Health confirmed it did not have a Covid-19 case in the ICU.
“We have covidinfection children who are being treated here, but there is no increase in the number of cases.
Even though we have beds booked, there are currently no children in need of ICU treatment,” said Dr.
Manganhesh M, Resident Medical Officer, Child Institute of Health Indira Gandhi.
Randeep D, Special Commissioners, Health, BBMP, said that while absolute counts may appear high, as a total positive proportion, part of those infected in the age group of 0-9 years is in the range of 12-14% since last week of July.
He said hospitalization had not increased abnormally and had no pediatric death in the last 10 days in Bengaluru.
“What we need to ensure and most importantly is the behavior that matches Covid and regular sanitization from the place of school when high school is reopened.
Simtomatic students must be encouraged to report their symptoms and tested,” Randeep said.
However, the Department of Health’s authority said it made children wear masks all the time and to comply with covidals such as social distance would be a challenge.
“Therefore, simtomatic adults must remain isolated from all family members and tested earlier for Covid,” they said.
Well Depuedgaurav Gupta, Head of the BBMP commissioner, said, “No need to panic because there has been no surge in cases between children reported so far in Bengaluru.
We consistently monitor and analyze the pattern of deployment and ready to face the third wave possible.
We are mainly directed to care for children.
“But Gupta says parents must also be responsible and give an example secretly to adhere to the Covid safety protocol to protect their children from infection.
He said adults must be careful because it is likely that they can become a source of deployment.