Mumbai: 18 at Mankhurd children’s home test Covid-19 positive

Children whose report came back negative are being monitored. Representation pic

Eighteen inmates from Chembur Children's Home in Mankhurd have tested positive for novel Coronavirus. All of them are asymptomatic and have been shifted to a quarantine centre at Vashi Naka in Chembur.

"A child was brought to Chembur Children's Home in July and had tested negative then. Last week [on August 27], he was shifted to another home and he tested positive there," said an official from the Chembur home on condition of anonymity.

Thereafter, one child at the Chembur Home developed fever, following which the BMC tested all 102 inamtes. "Eighteen children have tested positive, but none have symptoms. They have been shifted to a quarantine centre. The rest of the children are being closely monitored for symptoms," said Tushar Bhilawekar, superintendent of the children's home.

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Since Covid-19 hit early last year, the Mankhurd home has been following Covid-19 protocols strictly and regularly testing the children. In July 2020, a guard posted at the home died of Covid-19, but strict regulations kept the infection away from children.

A couple of days ago, 26 people, including 15 minors, from St Joseph's School and Orphanage at Agripada in Byculla had contracted the virus. Later, 14 children at an Ulhasnagar home also tested positive. These outbreaks have kept the authorities on alert, with the experts warning that the third wave, if it hits, would affect more children.