Guwahati: As many as 34,606 children below the age of 18 have tested positive for Covid-19 during the second wave of the pandemic in Assam, authorities have said. This accounts for 12 per cent of the total cases reported since April 1 this year.
A release from the National Health Mission, Assam on Monday said that out of the 2.8 lakh Covid-positive cases between April 1 and June 26 this year, 34,606 fell in the under-18 age group. While 5,755 children under five years of age tested positive, 28,851 infections were recorded in the six to 18 age group.
“Among the children affected, most of them are in the 10 to 18 age group,” Health Minister Keshab Mahanta told the media on Monday, adding that the government has taken note of the development. “We are taking a number of steps including activating paediatric ICUs in all medical colleges in the state, as well as district hospitals,” he said.
Kamrup Metro has the highest caseload with 5,346 children found to be infected by the virus. This comprises 10.04 per cent of the total caseload of 53,251 in the district.
Dibrugarh follows next with 2,430 Covid-19 cases among children, which accounts for 12.19 per cent of the total 19,937 Covid-19 cases in the district.
Nagaon is placed third with 2,288 cases below 18 years and this stands at 14.38 per cent of the total 15,910 cases.
Kamrup Rural is placed fourth with 2,023 coronavirus cases among children, which stands at 11.75 per cent of the total 17,216 cases.
Sonitpur is fifth with 1,839 Covid-19 cases among children, which stands at 13.89 per cent of the total 13,239 cases in the district.
The other districts have also reported positive cases among children below the age of 18.
