Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): The Odisha government today advised parents to ensure their children above two years wear masks when go outside. The advisory has been issued in the wake of an increase in Covid positive cases among children during the second wave of the pandemic.
In a letter to the Women and Child Development Department that will issue a detailed advisory for children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women in the State later, the Health and Family Welfare Department’s Additional Chief Secretary PK Mohapatra suggested children above two years must wear masks as per recommendation of Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Parents may be asked to ensure their children wear masks properly, the letter stated.
Persons belonging to any age group including children having any symptoms of Covid-19 must go for testing, isolation and medical advice as per WHO guidelines, it read.
The letter further stated the newer symptoms of Covid-19 are diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, etc. in addition to the earlier noted symptoms of cold, cough, fever, loss of smell/or feeding in infants. If such symptoms are observed among children, pregnant and lactating women and adolescents, they may be considered for suspecting Covid-19 case, it added.
Hand washing with soap and water must be done for at least 40 seconds instead of 20 seconds. Unnecessary touching of face, nose and eyes must be discouraged at all levels in all age groups, the advisory of the Health and Family Welfare department read.
