Covid-19: Children getting infected in Mumbai, but proportion of cases stable

There was a fear that cases among the younger generation may increase. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Cases of Covid-19 among children might have increased, but their proportion to the total number of cases in the city has been the same for around five months. Even after the reopening of schools and rising cases in the city, the proportion of cases among children is stable at 10.8 per cent. There is a fear of infection among children below 18 years, as they are not vaccinated. But so far it seems the young population is safe.

Since last week, Covid infections are rising in the city. As schools for all students started on December 15, and the decision on vaccination of children is still on hold, there was a fear that cases among the younger generation may increase. During the first wave, 18,094 children below 19 years were infected between March 2020 and February 2021, accounting for 5.7 per cent of all cases in Mumbai. This rose to 13 per cent in June amid the second wave. Since then, the rate has hovered around 10.5 per cent. Reports of the fifth genome sequencing study also showed similar results.

Last week, from December 14 to 22, the city reported 2,453 cases. Earlier the average daily cases were below 200 which increased to 272 last week. Out of the 2,453 cases, 265 cases were among people below 19 years. This is 10.8 per cent of the total cases. "The cases of Covid-19 infection in children have increased but they are in accordance with the total cases. The increasing infection may be related to no vaccination in this group. The rate is around 10.5 per cent," said civic officials.

Infection rate among kids (2021)
>> August: 10.9 %
>> Sept: 10.2 %
>> Oct: 10.4 %
>> Nov: 10.7%
>> Dec (1 to 13): 10.8%