It is learnt that seven children and a staff member of Apna Ghar at Merces tested positive for Covid-19 and are undergoing treatment.
A child who was taken to Madhya Pradesh, following release from the state-run juvenile detention centre, initially tested positive for the virus.
Later all children were tested and reports of six other children also came positive. This sudden development goes to prove that children too are susceptible to the infection.
In the past there was a belief that children may not be infected by the virus as much as adults are. Schools from Class VII have commenced in the physical mode. This latest news of infection of children at Apna Ghar makes it all the more important to observe pandemic related protocol in the school premises.
All necessary precautions need to be taken to see that school children are not exposed to the virus while in school. The infection among the children could be asymptomatic which makes it all the more important to carry out tests for the virus among the students on a regular basis.
Orphanages which house children also need to take all necessary steps to prevent spread of the virus.
