With the continuous onslaught of coronavirus infection among children, the state of Maharashtra has decided to constitute a COVID Paediatric Task Force in Mumbai, Pune and all other districts. The state Health Minister informed that this special team has been marked as a proactive control measure, in view of a probable ‘third wave’ of coronavirus infection, expected to hit soon. The force will guide the state to adopt effective COVID treatment for children and curtail the infection rise with the help of paediatric treatment protocols.
Proactive care to cub the pandemic
The state of Maharashtra, through its laudable ‘Mumbai Model’, has been able to get past the second swell of the coronavirus infection, however, the threats of a possible third rise indicate that the pandemic battle is not over, yet. With forecasts of another dangerous swell, the state has started to gear up and prepare in advance to avoid catastrophe later.
Once formed, the Covid Paediatric Task Force will be deployed immediately to treat COVID-19 among children and create paediatric treatment protocols across the state territory, the Health Minister informed. This would also include creating more hospitals beds- both general and NICU, ventilators for kids and augmenting the existing facilities in the health centres.
700 beds for COVID-hit children in Mumbai
Last week, the Chief Minister had directed all District Collectors and health officers to buckle up for the third wave, which could hit children in a big way. Simultaneously, the state machinery, including the Tourism Minister and Mumbai Guardian Minister, discussed the issue with the Mumbai Mayor and top officials of the BMC to curb the infection rise, in this regard,
As per discussions, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation plans to set up fully-equipped Paediatric Covid Care Wards, Paediatric ICUs, and Neonatal ICUs, in at least three locations in the city. These will have over 700 beds, for the children who may be hit.
The special task force is being set up in view of the second wave incidence among children, where infection trends surged alarmingly in this younger demographic, As per reports, over 10,000 are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals. As per the state records, the 1-10 age group presently carries 1,49,224 infections while 338,397 have been found COVID positive, in the 11-20 age group, as yet.
