Only one out of 418 Covid +ve pupils needed hospitalisation after Himachal schools reopened

Subhash Rajta

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 22

Out of the 418 schoolchildren, who tested positive for Covid-19 after the schools re-opened in the state on September 27, only one needed hospitalisation. As many as, 210 students have recovered while 207 are still in isolation. A 13-year-old girl from Kangra, who was hospitalised, succumbed to the disease in Hamirpur on Thursday.

Number of cases rising in schools

• Health officials are not hitting the panic button yet, though they have started getting a little worried.
• There is a gradual increase in the number of cases among schoolchildren but they officials wait and watch before reaching some conclusion.
• The positivity rate is rising in Hamirpur, Kangra and Una districts too, giving a cause of worry to health officials.

National Health Mission (NHM) Director Hemraj Bairwa said the data showed that children had much better natural immunity against the virus. “It is very comforting that all children, except one, did not need hospitalisation. Many have already recovered and others are recuperating at home”.

Apart from apparently being better at fighting the virus than adults, many schoolchildren have the disease induced anti-bodies too. “In the sero survey carried out a while ago, 61.5 per cent children in the age group of 10-17 years were found to have anti-bodies against Covid-19,” Bairwa said.

Even as the overall situation appears quite comfortable, the death of the 13-year-old has caused some anxiety. “It is really unfortunate that the virus took away the child. On the basis of the reports we are getting from the ground, proper medical assistance was not sought until very late in her case,” he maintained. “Even if children are not getting seriously ill, parents can’t get complacent. In case the child complains of difficulty in breathing or the oxygen level dips, proper medical care must be sought without wasting any time,” the director stated.

While the health officials are not hitting the panic button yet, they have started getting a little worried. “Apart from this death, we are noticing a gradual increase in the number of cases among schoolchildren. That’s worrying for us. Nevertheless, we will wait and watch for a few more days to reach some conclusion,” Bairwa said.

At the moment, Hamirpur, Kangra and Una districts are giving some jitters to the health officials. “The positivity rate is rising in these districts. We are anyway keeping a close watch on the situation,” Bairwa added.

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