Anticipating the arrival of third wave of Covid-19 later this year, West Bengal government has started earmarking beds in various hospitals to treat children up to 12 years of age.

A senior official said that around 10,000 general beds will be earmarked for women and pediatric cases, as children, with mild to moderate symptoms, may have their mothers accompanying them.

On an order issued on Monday, a state government official said, “Many scientists are of the opinion that children may be affected more in number during the next wave of Covid-19. State government has planned to protect the children by escalating inpatient Covid facilities for the younger group.”

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India’s top experts have however clarified that there is no evidence to assume that the third wave will hit children harder. Dr Randeep Guleria, director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said, “If we look at the data, and compare both the Covid-19 waves, children are usually protected as the numbers are fewer. Even if they get infection, the disease is usually mild…there is no indication that in the third Covid-19 wave, children will be more impacted.”

He further added, “There could also be another theory that says since kids aren’t exposed much yet, in the next wave there’s a possibility that proportionally they may get more affected by virtue of greater exposure.”

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But as a measure of precaution, West Bengal is setting aside around 350 Sick Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) beds for mild to critical cases among infants up to three months of age. Additionally, another 1,300 Pediatric ICU (PICU) beds are being arranged at adult Covid centres also.

The official sited above said, “In Kolkata, around 10 hospitals have been identified in which around 240 beds in PICU will be arranged. Another nine SNCU units in the city have been identified where 45 beds will be set aside.”

The doctors and nurses specifically posted in such units will be trained to handle severe and critically ill paediatric patients.

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On the development of SOPs for these hospitals, the official said, “Do’s and don’ts are being prepared for mothers and caregivers who will be staying with the children. Such training would be completed by July. Supply of equipment, installation and demonstration of gadgets would be done by August.”

The official further said, “Going by the experience of some other countries such as UK and Canada, we expect the third wave to hit sometimes around October-November.”

During the second wave, the daily count in the state hit a peak on May 14 with 20,846 cases. Data shared by the state health department showed that the number of cases is steadily dropping. The number of daily cases was at 3,268 on June 15, and the number of deaths reported has also dropped below 100 now.