Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jun 22: According to a statement released by AIIMS on June 19, third wave of Covid is going to hit India in the next six to eight weeks and affect children in large numbers. In the midst of this, unlocking process has begun in the state. The expert committee of Karnataka led by renowned cardiologist Dr Devi Prasad Shetty has warned the state government that the third wave might affect 3.4 lac children in the state.

The committee has alerted the government to make special arrangements to deal with the situation, mainly health care of children. The 16-member committee has submitted a 91-page interim report to the government in this regard.

The committee opines that the third wave of Covid is going to gather momentum in the month of October or November. In Bengaluru itself there are 32.21 lac children in the age group of 0 to 18 years. Out of this 45,958 children are going to get infected from Covid. Out of the total 2.38 crore children of 0 to 18 years of age in the state, 3.4 lac are going to get infected from Covid third wave.

In Bengaluru there is necessity of 3,677 beds for children. Out of this 1,838 ICU and HDU (High Dependency Unit) are required. In addition, 7,353 beds are required in Covid care centers. The committee has also advised the government that 27,205 beds, 13,602 ICU and 54,409 HDU beds are required in Covid care centers throughout the state. It has also advised to establish child care safety centres (Bala Araike Suraksha Kendra).

Reacting to the report of the expert committee health minister Dr Sudhakar said, “Based on the final report of the expert committee necessary preparations will be made in 45 days.”