This was happening despite the closure of all schools and colleges across the State till January 31

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Over 1,500 students in the age group of 15 to 18 years and over 500 teachers/lecturers tested positive for Corona on a single day on Monday ringing the alarm bells in the state health department.

Sources told News Trail that the number of children in this age-group testing positive was really a matter of concern. Along with it even teachers/ lecturers were also contracting the virus. This was happening despite the closure of all schools and colleges across the State till January 31. One of the main reasons for the spike in cases particularly in this age group may be because of children going out to play or for other purposes with or without the mask and mingling with friends without maintaining social distance. The new variant of the virus, Omicron, is mainly affecting children in this age group.

The sources pointed out that so far, 5000 students in the age group have tested positive but there has been no casualty. Most of them are showing very mild symptoms and would become alright after a week-long home quarantine. Most of the cases are coming from residential schools and hostels where the children, despite the shutting of educational institutions for another ten days are still staying.

For this reason, the government has launched the vaccination drive for the 15-18years age group and already, 62 per cent of students have taken the first dose. All DHOs have been asked to complete the first round of vaccination since they have to administer the second dose after February 1.

The sources noted that the focus of the government must be now on this age group as well as on the 5 to 12 years group since kids in the latter age group are also contracting the virus. As many as 70 to 100 cases of children in the age group of 15 to 18 years are being reported from each district. Parents must be advised against allowing their kids in this age group from going outside. In many cases, children are getting the virus from their working parents. These parents must avoid sharing the common places in the house till the situation improves.

On Monday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai advised the health and education department to hasten the vaccination drive by holding it in colleges to save students from the virus. Till then, students must take all precautions, added a health expert.