DGHS Guidelines / Masks not needed for children below 5 years, says health ministry

DGHS Guidelines | Children are feared to be the most affected in the possible third wave of Corona. However, according to AIIMS, there is no strong evidence that children will be affected the most by the coming wave. Despite this, people are scared and cautious about their children. Now a guideline has been issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Union Health Ministry.

According to this guideline, children below the age of five are not required to wear a mask. Apart from this, the government also issued guidelines for children aged 6 to 11 years. According to this, children aged 6 to 11 years should wear a mask under the supervision of a parent. Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) had made it mandatory for children above 12 years to wear masks in its guideline. The WHO also said that children below 5 years of age do not need to wear masks.

Remdesivir is not for children below 18 years of age

The DGHS also told in another guideline that children below 18 years should not be given Remdesivir injection at all. The DGHS said that there is no concrete data about Remdesivir yet, so this injection should not be given to children. The DGHC advised that if the child does not have symptoms of corona or has a minor infection, then he does not need to be tested. Also, there is no need to give any medicine to such children from their mind. In this situation, the doctor should be consulted through telecommunication and not the hospital. Apart from this, children should be given a nutritious diet and follow the Kovid protocol.

children need extra care

Doctors say that this guideline is necessary for the parents of children as well as doctors. According to a report published in the English newspaper, Dr Gauri Aggarwal of Yashoda Hospital in Delhi said that it is important to understand the basic information about masks and hygiene. It is impossible for children to understand how to wear a mask. Therefore, DGHS has advised children not to wear masks. Doctors say that since the child cannot wear a mask, parents need to take extra care of their child. A few days ago AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria had said that there is no strong evidence of the maximum impact on children in a possible third wave.