Has COVID-19 third wave arrived in Mumbai already? Here's what BMC said

The effect of the second wave of coronavirus in the country is receding. However, after a brief respite, the threat of a third wave continues to loom. Experts have said that the impact of the third wave will be more on children. The figures confirm this. Meanwhile, there is news that about 40 children have been found coronavirus positive in a week in Mumbai.

Some time ago, COVID-19 restrictions in the city were relaxed after the COVID-19 caseload declined. People who have taken both doses of vaccine were allowed to travel in local trains or visit public places. However, a few weeks later, Mumbai's civic agency BMC has warned that cases are again on the rise. "COVID-19 positivity rate in Mumbai is close to 1%. Figures are rising from 300 to 400-450 cases. We’ve increased testing. Many areas have been opened. Only fully vaccinated people and essential service workers are allowed on local trains,” Suresh Kakani, Additional Commissioner, BMC, was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

When asked if it was the arrival of the third wave, he said, "It would be hasty to say that this is the start of the third wave, but the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has already made preparations for admission, management and treatment of patients."

However, the numbers have worried the residents and it is being said that the third wave of COVID-19 has started to arrive in Mumbai. This time, the impact is visible on children and youth. At the Chembur Children's Home in Mankhurd in Mumbai, 18 children, aged between 10-18 years, were found coronavirus positive. A total of 102 children live here.

In such a situation, the question that arises is how Mumbai's civic agency BMC is prepared to deal with it. 

During the first COVID-19 wave in Mumbai, 5.6% of the total patients were children and below 19 years of age. At present, this rate has almost doubled i.e. 10.8% of children and youth are infected in Mumbai. In June, 13% of children and youth were affected by the virus.

On the one hand, the pressure of unlocking and the fear of the third wave of coronavirus in the festive season is haunting everyone. From 21 to 28 August, 247 children and teenagers below 19 years have been hit by the virus in Mumbai. Of these, 65 children are less than 9 years of age. At the same time, in the first 20 days of August, 8,041 cases of coronavirus infection were reported, out of which 508 i.e. 9.2% were children. According to the census, 29% of the population of Mumbai belongs to the age group below 19 years and this time, the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in this age group.