Shocking! Over 9,000 children test Covid-positive in May in Ahmednagar

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At least 9,000 children tested Covid-positive in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in May, 2021 although 95 percent of the cases were asymptomatic, reported The Tribune.

PTI reports estimated 9,928 cases out of a total of 86,182 cases were of children below 18 years, as per District Collector Rajendra Bhosale on June 1. Moreover, these cases account for about 11.5 percent of all cases reported last month.

While over 6,000 children were in the 11 to 18 years age group, around 3,000 were in the 1 to 10 years age group. A few children, yet to complete a year of life, also tested positive for Covid-19. However, regardless of the break-up Bhosale told news organisations that most children did not face danger as many were asymptomatic. Instead, he spoke of the report as a warning of a possible third wave of Covid-19 and asked parents to take care of their children.

Similarly, Ahmednagar’s paediatric task force member Dr Sachin Solat said that of the 350-370 patients admitted in the district’s civil hospital only five to six were children. In fact, 97 Covid-positive minors were reported on May 31 out of 1,000 new Covid-19 cases.

Nonetheless, a task force comprising 10 senior paediatricians has been formed in Ahmednagar to prepare against an oncoming third wave of the Coronavirus. A State Paediatric Task Force meeting is to take place on June 1 to discuss the Ahmednagar incident further. Meanwhile, Solat has called for a 100-bed facility equipped with oxygen and ICUs at the local hospital.

As of May 28, the district reported 2,58,195 positive cases and 3,086 Covid-deaths on its website. While there is no explanation for the spread of the virus among over 9,000 children, there is speculation that the minors are infected by Covid-positive adults around them.

Earlier, SabrangIndia talked to Save The Children organisation that recommended temporary care and support safe spaces for children whose parents/guardians are hospitalised or quarantined to save them from the onslaught of the third wave.