Children mostly asymptomatic but capable of spreading Covid-19: Govt

Amid rising concerns that children could be particularly vulnerable to future waves of Covid-19, the government on Tuesday said existing evidence suggested that kids were generally asymptomatic but were capable of spreading the disease.

“Response remains the same of what we do, we have to protect ourselves with Covid-appropriate behaviour and children have to be encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distancing. There is a clear-cut science-driven protocol already available. If Covid-19 symptoms are seen in children, then that should be followed,” Niti Aayog member-health Dr V K Paul said.

Severe disease in children was uncommon but a clinical management protocol for that was in place as well, Dr Paul said. Referring to the previous sero-survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, he said the infection had comparable rates among children above 10 years and adults in December-January.


However, whether children could be more vulnerable to Covid-19 in the coming times would also depend on mutations, he added. Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has been granted permission for phase 2/3 clinical trials on children.