Third Wave Fear: 300 Children Contract COVID-19 In 6 Days

Amid apprehensions that a looming third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic could impact younger people more, about 300 children have tested positive for coronavirus in the past six days in Bengaluru.

According to data provided by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), 127 children under 10 years and 174 others aged between 10 and 19 years have tested COVID positive during the period between August 5 and August 10.

Urging citizens not to panic, BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta told indianexpress.com: “The cases among children reported so far in the city have been compared with last year’s data and the two are almost the same. We are carefully following the data and analysing the situation and are prepared to face the third wave. We are especially concerned about children.”

BBMP officials have sought experts’ advice to deal with COVID-19 among children.

Many parents would be worried as schools in Karnataka are scheduled to reopen from August 23 for students of Classes IX to XII.

India is yet to approve a vaccine for children, though trials are well under way.