543 children in Bengaluru found Covid positive in 11 days; govt reserves 50% ICU beds for paediatric wards

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, August 14

As many as 543 children in the age-group of 0-18 have tested positive for Covid-19 in Bengaluru between August 1 and 11.

“Between August 1 and 11, about 88 children in the 0-9 years age group, and 305 children in the 10-19 years age group tested positive for Covid-19. Among the 499 new cases, 263 were reported in past five days and out of these, 88 are aged below 9 years. About 175 cases have been found in children aged between 10 and 19, reports News 18, quoting BBMP.

The Karnataka government has announced that it may reopen schools for students studying in Classes 9-12 by August end leading to massive panic among parents.  

Amidst the rise, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that 50 per cent of ICU beds in the state hospitals would be converted into paediatric ICU beds.

“At all hospitals in zilla panchayats,100 plus bed hospitals in taluka panchayats and government hospitals in Bengaluru, it has been decided to convert 50 per cent of ICU beds into paediatric ICU beds,” he said.

The CM said: “The government will also implement the “Vatsalya” programme aimed to ensure well-being of children during the time of Covid.” 

The project will ensure that children will have more immunity towards Covid. Children comprise the non-vaccinated group and steps will be taken to increase the number of ICU beds, ventilator beds and oxygen beds, he added.

The Covid infection spread from neighbouring states of Kerala and Maharashtra last time and necessary steps have been taken to ensure that this is not repeated, he underlined. “Health checkups will be conducted on all children of bordering villages,” he stated. With inputs from IANS