n In view of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic likely to affect a large number of children, the State Government is upgrading all infrastructure required for their treatment, said Health Services Director Bijay Mohapatra on Monday. Answering a query whether a special Covid Hospital would be set up for children, Mohapatra said it is not possible to set up separate hospitals for the adults and children. But facilities for treatment in the existing Covid hospitals would be upgraded.He said that the Government would set up a Covid centre of excellence at the Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack at the earliest.“It is expected that the third wave of Covid-19 is likely to reach its peak in October.
Around 23 per cent of the infected children will be hospitalised during the period. The Health Department is fully braced up to meet any eventuality,” said Mohapatra.Now we are having around 12 to 13 per cent infection among children during the end of the second wave of the pandemic which had reached its peak after 64 days, said Mohapatra. “Third wave is now approaching. We have to be fully prepared to keep more hospital beds and logistics ready as more children are likely to be affected during this period,” he said.
“Though the pandemic will not affect the children severely, people should not be complacent. The Health Department is keeping an eye on the daily infection rate among children to keep things under control,” Mohapatro added.