‘State Must Prepare For Pediatric Covid Surge'

Mumbai: The state’s Covid task force member and medical education director TP Lahane on Saturday said the entire healthcare machinery should be prepared for an “unpredicted” pediatric Covid-19 surge, in terms of infrastructure, medicines, equipment specific to the pediatric age group, standard operating procedure and high-level training to medical staff.

- Prafulla.Marpakwar

“In the first wave, Maharashtra had witnessed one per cent pediatric cases, and in the second wave, it was between 3.5% to 4%. In the third wave, it will not be surprising if it touches 10%. Initially, the maximum of Covid patients was above 50 years old, and in the second wave, over 20 years old. Now it appears even younger people may be infected,” Lahane told TOI in an interview on measures to prevent a third wave in Maharashtra.