New Delhi, May 18

The government on Tuesday said children aged 10 years and above must wear masks and practise social distancing in the face of growing evidence that kids could get asymptomatic Covid and also transmit the virus.

VK Paul, Member, Health, NITI Aayog, officially acknowledged for the first time today that children were getting asymptomatic infection, which was transmissible. He noted that self-protection and home care principles valid for Covid prevention in adults were equally valid for children.

He said Covaxin trials in children would begin in 10 to 12 days and a vaccine strategy would also be in place soon. “Young people in general are asymptomatic and symptoms appear as age increases. The December sero survey of ICMR, which covered children above 10 years, showed 20-22 per cent sero prevalence, the same level in adults,” Paul said. — TNS