An increasing number of children, aged one to 10, are coming down with Covid-19 in the second wave of infections, according to data accessed from the state government.
From March 14 to 21, there were 160 cases of children being infected in Bengaluru, with the numbers being particularly high on Saturday and Sunday, at 33 and 32 respectively.
At the state level, as per the data from the Covid-19 War Room, 267 child infections were found over a two-week period. In contrast, during the start of last year’s surge from June 24, 2020 (when Covid numbers were roughly on par with what they are today), about 16 child cases were being reported daily.
Experts believe this rise in numbers is due to disregard for Covid-appropriate behaviour.
In 2020, most children had been infected by parents or relatives, or contracted the disease while travelling with their families. The situation is much the same now, said Dr Anoop Amarnath, a member of the state’s Critical Care Support Unit (CCSU).
“But the numbers are higher now because there appears to be abandonment of Covid precautions. We are seeing entire families turning positive, right from grandparents to children. Consequently, the number of child cases has risen,” Dr Amarnath said.
BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad added, “We are surprised to see many households testing positive. People are not isolating themselves properly.”
‘Don’t close schools’
While an external setting such as schools or playgrounds cannot be ruled out as a driver for infection, experts said the issue of rising child cases should not be used to shut down schools as it may deprive them of social interaction.
“Most Covid-19 infections are happening in communities due to a decline in SMS — Social distancing, Mask-wearing and Sanitisation. The government will gain nothing by closing schools. Instead, the closure of schools will further affect children mentally by depriving them of social interaction,” explained paediatrician Dr Asha Benkappa.
The impact of school closures on rural communities is also devastating, added professor Niranjanaradya V P of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU).
Pregnant women with Covid
Meanwhile, the incidences of pregnant women with Covid-19 have also increased. Last year, Vani Vilas hospital said it had admitted 229 pregnant women who had Covid-19. “For a while there were no cases, but then we got our first case in pregnant women this year on February 18. Since then, we are getting two to three cases every day. There has been one case of infection among newborns,” said Dr Geetha Shivamurthy, medical superintendent, Vani Vilas.
She added that unlike last year, when many cases were from hotspot areas such as Padarayanapura, this year’s cases have been from all over Bengaluru.