Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government on Tuesday clarified that only 0.07% children in the age group of 0-18 years were infected by COVID-19 in May. The government has formed a task force headed by leading pediatrician Dr Suhas Prabhu to decide treatment protocol. Public Health Department additional chief secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas said the government has geared up to strengthen infrastructure, health machinery to treat children during the third wave.
In May 2021, about 1,076 patients in the age group of zero to five years that is 1.33% of the total patients were infected by the virus while 1918 patients in the age group of six to ten years (2.37%), 6422 patients in the age group of eleven to eighteen years (7.95%) were infected. This shows that the rate of infection is not high in children under 18 years of age. In April 2021, about 757 patients in the age group of zero to five years (0.98%) of the total patients were affected by the pandemic. In the case of 6-10 years, 510 patients (1.95%) were affected by the virus, in 11-18 years it was 6.90%.
The public health department has tracked the data of the last six months and reiterated that there has not been much change in the incidence of corona infection among children from 0-18 age group.
The state government’s clarification came on a day when the Centre said that there will be no deficiency in the care and infrastructure required for children catching COVID 19. Only 2%-3% of children who get infected may need hospitalisation.
‘’COVID 19 in children is often asymptomatic and rarely requires hospitalisation. However, changes in epidemiological dynamics or viral behavirour can change the situation and increased the prevalence of infection,’’ said VK Paul, member (Health) Niti Aayog.
