With schools set to open, Sept 1 to 22 data shows Covid-19 among those below 19 years stood at 11.33 per cent of the overall cases
BMC says children have been recovering from Covid fast. Representation pic
While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) says that the Covid-19 situation in the city is still under control, cases among children are slowly and steadily rising. The cases reported among youngsters below 19 years from September 1 to 22 comprise 11.33 per cent of the overall infections detected in the same period. The same for July and August was 10.3 and 10.9 per cent, respectively.
In March, before the second wave hit the city, cases among kids were 5.6 per cent of the overall infections. However, civic officials are of the opinion that children are recovering fast and undergoing isolation at home, a trend that is similar to the last two months.
ADVERTISEMENT
As per data available with the BMC, from September 1 to 22, 254 children below the age of nine years and 681 youngsters between 10 and 19 years were found to be Covid positive. Though the number is less than the earlier months, and especially compared to March and April when the second wave was at its peak, the cases among children are still on the rise.
BMC says they can start vaccinating children above 12 years if the central government approves vaccines for the same. Representation pic
In June, about 13.3 per cent of the total cases were of children in the 0-19 years group. In July and August, the same figure was 10.3 and 10.9 per cent respectively. In September it rose to 11.33 per cent.
Meanwhile, additional commissioner of the BMC, Suresh Kakani said, “Cases among children are similar to what it was over the past two months. The positive part is that there were hardly any deaths and most of the children did not need hospitalisation. They are also recovering fast.”
As per data, cases among children started increasing from March. Kakani added, “If the central government approves vaccines for children above 12 years in October, we can start the drive at our centres as the infrastructure is already in place.”
According to the BMC, there are approximately 10 to 12 lakh children between 12 and 19 years of age and the infrastructure was enough to vaccinate them within a couple of days.
10-12L
No. of children between 12-19 years in city
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
