Alarm Bells: 10% Of COVID-19 Cases Here Reported In Children

Experts are divided on whether a possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which many have said is inevitable in India, will affect children more.

Even as the country gears up to deal with a fresh surge in coronavirus cases, an alarming trend has been reported from Puducherry.

The union territory in south India has seen a steady rise in cases over the last few days. As much as 10 per cent of the recent COVID infection has been found in children and infants.

“Ten per cent of total Covid cases are pediatric. We have ramped up hospital infrastructure and augmented ICU and oxygen beds. We are on high alert. We request parents to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccinate themselves,” Puducherry Health Secretary Dr Arun said.

Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has appealed to citizens not to let their guard down and adopt proactive measures to prevent a surge in cases.

“I would only appeal to the parents not to take children out or invite relatives and outsiders into the families. This is a preventive and precautionary measure,” Soundararajan said, urging people not to panic.

There were 104 fresh coronavirus cases in Puducherry in the past 24 hours, while 16 children have had to be hospitalized so far.