Covid hospital for children identified

-Reshma Ravishanker

As many as 860 children from classes I to X tested positive for the Covid-19 virus over the last month in Karnataka according to official data.

In Karnataka, where the positivity rate has crossed 10 %, indicative of a third wave of the pandemic, a spurt in cases among children has been reported. The 860 children out of the 1.04 crore students enrolled in schools across Karnataka were tested positive between December 8, 2021, and January 10, 2022. During the same period, 85 school teachers have also tested positive in the state.

The highest number has been reported from the Belagavi district at a total of 160 covid affected students over the month. District authorities have now suspended all in-person classes in schools and colleges in this district over the sudden rise in cases. An unprecedented 144 cases were reported from Chikkamagaluru district as well among students.

In a notification released on January 10, the Commissionerate of the department of health and family welfare announced that dedicated Covid-19 hospitals have been identified.

“With the onset of Covid-19 third wave and the sudden surge in the number of Covid positive cases among children and women, it is felt necessary to have exclusive treatment facilities for the same,” the notification reads.

Bengaluru’s government-run Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health has been declared as a Covid-19 hospital to treat children and Ghousia Maternity Hospital for women respectively.

So far, Karnataka has suspended in-person classes in Bengaluru Urban in the wake of rising cases after the health minister announced that the City was the epicenter for the third wave of the pandemic. Baring classes 10-12, medical, nursing, and paramedical courses, all on-campus classes have been halted and only online classes are permitted. On January 11, a similar decision was taken in Belagavi and Mysuru districts as well which have witnessed a sudden rise in cases. 

Also read: Karnataka: Positivity rate crosses 10%, DCs to decide on schools, colleges closure