Pandemic Facts (September, 18 )

Nobody likes to live with Covid-19, Yet…

Living with Covid-19 is no longer an option, it’s the New Normal

R. K. mahapatra

Schools will open. Students will attend in-person classes. That will increase the spread of the virus among an unvaccinated crowd. When there is already a  local surge, opening up will further increase the surge. 

It is accepted that Covid-19 remains a mild flu like disease among the primary school kids. but these kids can bring the virus to their home and can infect their grand parents.

A recent study from USA makes some interesting observations.

In USA, schools follow a strict protocol for prevention of Covid-19.

• Vaccination of all who are eligible, all staff and all 12+
• Ventilation– Some schools have HEPA Filter
• Weekly testing
• School Closure if there is a spurt of new cases.

The study has revealed that the average School Closure Time in some states of USA is 4 weeks. The cycle goes like this:

After the school re-opens the virus takes 2 week to enter the school. It takes 2 more weeks before a new spurt of cases among the students is detected by weekly testing. And the school is closed again.

That’s if we do routine screening of all students in our schools. Otherwise we remain blissfully unaware.

My safe school will have the following 5 criteria.

1. Vaccination :- Those who are eligible for vaccination should be vaccinated. Vaccination is reported to have the capacity to slow the spread of virus. Soon children above 12 in our country will be eligible for vaccination. Till such time elementary schools should not be opened.
2. Ventilation :- Indoor air quality is the best parameter for respiratory virus spread. Class rooms should have wide windows on both sides allowing adequate cross ventilation. If possible outdoor teaching is preferable.
3. Rapid Response Team– School should have its dedicated knowledgeable  RR Team. Students having symptoms should be quarantined. There should be provisions for quick testing and quarantining before a full scale break out occurs among the students, staff and family of them.
4. Masking should be mandatory. It should be the responsibility of schools to enforce mask use among all, all the time except during tiffin time.
5. Crowding in classroom and outside classroom should be prevented. Student numbers per class should be capped to see that there is adequate social distancing.

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• Number of new cases detected in last 24 hours in Odisha- 695
• Number of Paediatric cases in them- 83 (12%)
• Number of new cases detected in BBS- 267
• Number of Paediatric cases in them- 21 (7.8%)

what is the percent of children we send for testing. Less than 1%. when the tests are more extensive the report looks different, as in USA.

( Till September 9) source: American Academy of Pediatrics

• Number of new Paediatric cases in last One week- 243,000
• Number of new Paediatric cases in last Two weeks- 500,000
• Since the beginning Children represented 15.5% of total cumulated cases
• In the last two weeks Children represented 28.9% of total cumulated cases.
• Children make up 11-21% of total tests in various states.

Children usually have a mild Covid-19 as compared to adults. Yes, the inherent immunity system in children is usually more competent to handle unknown viral attacks than that in adults. This is called the Innate immunity. As we grow up and build up more of targeted immunity, our overall immunity tapers off. This has an exotic name: Immuno Senescence . We also gather many chronic medical conditions.

• Opening of school should be decided by the local Test Positivity Rate among children.
• Masks and Distancing being the new normal should be strictly followed in our schools

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