Bengaluru sees spurt in U-10 children testing Covid +ve – Times of India

BENGALURU: As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in Bengaluru, more children aged below 10 are turning positive. This month, 472 kids in that age bracket have tested positive for Covid-19, and the number is expected to cross 500 over the weekend. Of the 472 cases, 244 are boys and 228 girls.

Experts say the second wave has hit children hard as, unlike last year, many are spending time outdoors. Families, in general, are moving about a lot more, which has increased the chances of transmission.

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A member of Karnataka’s technical advisory committee on Covid-19 told TOI that he was not surprised by the increasing number of infections among children.

“A year ago, cases among children were not this high as they were not exposed to the virus. During the lockdown, they were confined to their homes. Now, they visit parks or play in the common areas of their apartment complex,” the member said, adding that children could become carriers of coronavirus too.

Experts say it’s tough to make children properly wear masks and follow physical distancing.

“When they accompany their parents to functions like weddings, they become a part of the crowd. In such settings, children are most vulnerable,” the committee member said.

In the first week of March, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) recorded eight to 11 Covid-19 cases a day among children aged under 10. In the past week, the cases have ranged from 32 to 46 per day.