COVID cases among children up in 6 states as students trickle back to schools

As states tentatively open schools and children trickle back to classrooms amid fears of a third wave of COVID-19, a worrying trend has emerged from some states. In six states — Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand — there is a spike in the number of cases among children.

The biggest spike has been recorded in Punjab where the schools reopened on August 2. The cases among children have grown by 9.6 % between July and August. In the other five states, the growth in positivity among children is between 2% and 3%, reports ndtv.com

Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh opened its schools in the first week of August and Bihar on August 16. Gujarat took the lead, opening its schools on July 26.

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With the second wave of COVID ebbing, States are gradually opening schools, some offering hybrid classes for those reluctant to return. Delhi has opted for phased return to schools for students. In the first phase, Classes 9 to 12 will begin on September 1. Colleges and Universities will also open on the same day. From September 8, students of Classes 6 to 8 will return to schools.

There is some good news too, many states have recorded a negative growth in positivity percentage . Jharkhand, where schools opened on August 9, has recorded a negative growth of 0.9 % among children.

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Schools were shut down in March 2020 when the first wave of COVID-19 struck India. Since then they have largely remained shut. Some states did open briefly in February 2021 but then the deadly second wave struck and they were shut again.

Experts have been speaking about a possible third wave that could affect children more, given the fact that the adult population has received vaccines and thus will be immunised. 

As children return to schools, the government is preparing to roll out vaccines for them with children aged 12 and above expected to begin receiving shots in October.