PANAJI
In significant comments, which seemingly backed the advice to reopen schools given by the Task Force on Covid-19 management, the Goa Medical College (GMC) Dean Shivanand Bandekar on Wednesday said a majority of the children in the State have already got infected with the novel Coronavirus and recovered by themselves, citing findings of a seropositivity study.
“Nearly 70 per cent children in Goa were infected with Covid and have also recovered on their own suggests a seropositivity study by Goa Medical College,” Dr Bandekar said.
He cited statistics to say that seropositivity is already in the region of 70 per cent among children.
“It means that 70 per cent children have already got infected and got cured on their own,” Dr Bandekar said, adding that a small sample size that was studied gave indications to this effect.
Seropositivity gives an indication of the presence of antibodies in the blood serum of the local populace.
In another statement that could build public confidence and create a conducive atmosphere for opening up school campuses for physical classes, Dr Bandekar also argued that the expected ‘third wave’ will not be as large as the second wave which devastated the State and the country in April-May.
Bandekar heads the Expert Committee of medical professionals which the Goa government has set up in anticipation of the third wave. He said, the State is nearly 90 per cent ready to face the third wave with a pediatric ICU in place and termed the Covid situation as “presently static”.
The top official of the State’s premier health institution also warned that all activities will again be curbed and stringent steps taken if positivity rate begins to climb abnormally.
The expert committee is closely monitoring the positivity rate and periodically examining reports of the State’s epidemiologist, he said, adding that all should strictly adhere to covid appropriate behaviour.
