Mumbai: BMC in wait-and-watch mode on Covid-19 cases among children

Children of Ashokvan Upper Primary School in Dahisar on the first day of reopening on October 4. Pic/Satej Shinde

In what could lessen the anxieties of parents and authorities, the number of Covid cases among children has remained more or less the same after schools started in-person classes for students between Std VIII and Std XII two weeks ago. In the first 15 days of this month, the population of patients between 10 and 19 years rose from 7.3 per cent to 7.8 per cent of all cases in the city.

During the first wave, 18,094 children aged below 19 years were infected between March 2020 and February 2021. Their share of overall cases was 5.7 per cent. The cases among children increased in the second wave to over 13 per cent of all cases in June. Since then, it had hovered around 10 per cent. Encouraged by falling numbers and an uptick in vaccination, the state government and local bodies decided to reopen schools from October 4 for Std VIII-XII students with 50 per cent capacity and parents' consent.

In-person classes have started for students between Std VIII and XII

Between October 1 and 15, official data shows, 202 kids below 9 years and 578 children between 10 and 19 years tested positive. In September, the numbers for the same set of children were 425 and 1,048 respectively. This points to a 0.5 per cent rise in cases in the 10-19 category when compared to all cases in the city.

"Even though schools are reopened for students in 10 to 19 years category, the infection rate among both the age group is more or less the same as September. The numbers are more than August when 899 cases were reported [240 below 9 years and 659 between 10 and 19 years] in children," said a BMC official.

In June, infections among children was about 13% of all cases. Representation pic

Stressing that the numbers pertain to a little less than two weeks, civic authorities said there is no room for complacency at this stage.

"The cases among children are not rising and it is a positive sign. But we are still in wait-and-watch mode as the Covid pandemic is not over. A careless attitude can turn the situation and Covid protocol is necessary," said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC.