Lockdown In India? Some Chinese cities are facing another COVID-19-like situation with the outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus infection. Now, some kids have been found infected with the virus in Gujarat and Karnataka. According to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, a child has been detected with a Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection at a private hospital in the city. Also, the Indian Council of Medical Research has identified two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka as part of routine monitoring for various respiratory viruses, the Union health ministry announced on Monday.

The first case involved a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia, who was diagnosed with HMPV after being treated at Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She has since been discharged, the ministry reported. The second case was an eight-month-old male infant, also with a history of bronchopneumonia, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3 following admission to the same hospital. He is currently recovering, the statement added.

Will There Be Another Lockdown?

Now, with the infections already being reported from two states, the concern is growing across the country. People are also worried about whether the spread will lead to another lockdown in India. As of now, the government has maintained that there is no need to panic as the cases in India are not linked to China. The government has already activated its health agency to monitor the situation and take steps to aware the public.

However, since the cases are infecting kids, and if there happens a largescale outbreak, the schools in the affected region may opt to go online to help kids maintain social distancing. As of now, many schools have gone either on holiday or on online mode due to biting cold in the northern belt. However, there is no official announcement for online classes due to the HMPV cases.

This is a developing story.