GUWAHATI: Coronavirus infection in an orphanage here has set the alarm bells ringing in the health department. Twelve children in SOS Children's Village have tested Covid positive on a single day. The health department sent an emergency medical team to screen all residents of the campus, which is located near the city airport.
In the wake of the impending third wave, the government is extremely concerned about the infections among children.
“Twelve infected children were detected on Wednesday and sent to the Sarusajai Covid Care Centre,” said a spokesperson of the shelter home. He, however, said seven of them used to live in youth houses outside the campus but under the care of the shelter home authority.
Boys are shifted out to the youth houses when they turn 10 plus. About 150 children are residing on the campus at present. There are 16 homes in the village and three youth homes outside the campus. The Children's Village in Borjhar here is one of the largest orphanages in the northeast and remains vulnerable to Covid infection due to the entry of children from various parts of the state.
More than 100 tests were done on Thursday but sources said, none were found to be positive. Health department officials, however, could not confirm the health status of the infected children.
Since the second wave, a total of 27 children and three staff have contracted the virus in the shelter home. “Despite Covid curbs, we need to bring children for shelter. A screening is done when they come but somehow the virus has penetrated,” the official said. Total restriction has been imposed on the campus and no outsider has been allowed to come in touch with the children.
