Mumbai: 26 get COVID in Byculla orphanage

BMC tests 94 inhabitants and staff after two staff with fever test positive, finds 24 more cases including 15 kids

Mumbai appears to be getting a glimpse of the third wave as two staff and 24 inhabitants of a Byculla-based orphanage — four girls aged below 12 years, 11 aged between 12 and 18 years, and 11 adults — have tested positive for COVID-19. Two of the infected are senior citizens. This was found after 94 people were tested at the St. Joseph’s Home and Nursery. All the residents are either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic but have been shifted to hospitals as a precaution. 

Trouble started when two staff with fever were taken to the BMC’s Souter Street dispensary on Monday, August 23. RT-PCR tests were conducted and the women tested positive the next day. Meanwhile, two more women came to the fever clinic. The BMC health team then decided to arrange a test camp for all inhabitants and staff on August 24.

“Of those tested on Tuesday, 22 are positive. Out of 22, four children are below 12 years and 11 are between 12 and 18 years,” said Dr Shailendra Gujar, medical officer of the E ward’s health department. Some of the adults who tested positive may be staffers at the orphanage.

BMC officials seal the St. Joseph’s Home and Nursery in Byculla on Thursday

Manish Valanju, assistant commissioner of E ward, said that the children below 12 years have been shifted to the paediatric department of Nair hospital, the 11 children between 12 and 18 years and the 11 adults, including the women aged above 60 years, have been admitted to the Richardson and Cruddas COVID Care Centre in Byculla.  “Two women came to our fever clinic and tested positive for Coronavirus. So we decided to test everyone at the orphanage Tuesday. All 26 are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic but we shifted them to hospitals for better care,” said Valanju. He added that the proactive step of testing and tracing helped curb the spread of the virus.

Orphanage sealed

The orphanage was sealed on Thursday as a precaution. The kitchen is inside the orphanage and the civic body is ensuring that all essentials are provided through caterers, said an official from the BMC. On Friday, the BMC will be verifying if every inhabitant and staff at the orphanage was covered during testing.

Experts have warned that children will be hit during the anticipated third COVID-19 wave. Keeping this in mind, the BMC has planned to give special training to paediatricians and established special paediatric wards in all jumbo COVID centres. Meanwhile, children cannot take the vaccination yet as the central government has not approved it for them.

Tue
Day when 2 staff tested +ve and then all inhabitants were tested

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