No Third Wave Signs In Odisha, Children Grown Vulnerable Than Elderly Since May

No telltale signs of Third-wave in Odisha, notwithstanding the Odisha Health Department notifying an average of around 121 new Covid-19 cases daily in the age group of 0-18 years in the State.

The only twist here is the positive cases among the 0-18 years age group that had been on the downhill post the May 22 second wave peak, are on the rise thanks to the opening of schools in the State since July last week. Moreover, they are now taking a larger share of the infected pie vis-a-vis the second wave peak in the State.

However, the alarming indication here is in the second wave when the daily positive cases entered into the peak phase, positives in the age-group of 0-18 years had then shown an abnormal rise.

Positive Children - Then And Now

In fact, April had dropped many a sign to the State with regard to the galloping second wave that touched the peak on May 23. Consider the following facts.

• On April 13, the cumulative number of infections in the age group of 0-18 years had been 17,916.
• A week later, the total infections posted a sharp rise to touch 20,306 on April 22.
• The daily cases on average had been around 265.
• In contrast, the average cases in the age group recorded since August 14 is around 121.
• In mid-July, the daily cases in the age group had dropped to around 50-80 per day.
• However, the twist now is the proportion of new infections in the age group of 0-18 years has been around 13 per cent (12.8) in the last 5-days; whereas during the second wave pre-peak and peak, the share in the infection pie hovered between 5 - 8 percent.

The above data analysis shows that, though there has been no abnormal rise witnessed with regard to new positives in the age-group of 0-18 years, the big takeaway is the proportion of infection in the 0-18 yrs age has risen up vis-a-vis the newly infected in the other age-groups in Odisha.

Children Emerging More Vulnerable?

As per a data analysis of the age-wise infections in Odisha during first and second wave infers the following.

• Even, today the infection share among the working class and college-going age-group (19-40)  is around 51 percent.
• The next most affected age group has been 41-60 years. Their share in the infection chart is around 30 percent.
• The big change observed is an infection in the age group of 60-plus has dropped to around 5 percent against 10.7 percent during the second wave.
• And the burden of 0-18 years age-group in the infection chart has risen to around 12.8 per cent around 5-8 percent.
• Infection among children has picked up in the second wave itself.

Consider The Numbers

• On April 22 -- the difference between total infections in the age group of 0-18 years and 60+ was 22,749.
• On Aug 18 -- The difference between total infections in 60+ and 0-18 years stands at 12,432.

The Footnote: The drop in the gap shows now children are getting infected faster than the elderly in the State. And the reason for the drop in infections among the elderly is attributed to vaccination.