Schools cannot be opened and closed repeatedly due to the pandemic as it is the children who will eventually suffer and adults are to be blamed for the surge in covid numbers says Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr Channa De Silva. He made this statement while speaking to The Morning today (25). "The number of children infected with the covid-19 virus has doubled within a short period of time, and people are once again asking for the closure of schools. What people don't understand is that it is not the school vicinity that spreads the virus, but it is the adults. With the relaxation of health regulations, people are hosting parties, weddings and gatherings in closed spaces and no safety protocols are practiced. We also see people who don't even wear masks. This is the reason why the covid numbers are increasing considerably," said Dr De Silva. He further added that it has been proven scientifically that the transmission rate between children are at a minimum compared to transmission between adults. "The transmission rate between children to children is minimum in comparison to the transmission rate from adults to adults. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UNICEF have also released statistics proving that it is not the school environment that populates the covid-19 virus. Yes, there is an increase in patients at the children's hospital, but none of the cases are fatal," he added. Furthermore, Dr De Silva stated that the covid-19 virus is something that cannot be 'removed' from society, but people need to learn to adapt and move forward. "Every time there is a surge in cases, the country cannot be locked down. It is easy for people to demand for a lockdown, but this is not how a pandemic is controlled. People above the age of 12 years must get vaccinated, especially those who have underlying health conditions. To be considered fully vaccinated, people above the age of 20 years must acquire the booster dose as well. Viruses mutate, and the only way to beat this pandemic is by vaccinations," he suggested. Meanwhile, Dr De Silva reiterated the importance of 'protecting' children from the covid-19 virus. "People must stop social gatherings, at least until majority of the population is fully vaccinated. This is a must. People have dropped their guard and no one wears masks at gatherings or parties. Just because a person is vaccinated does not mean he or she is not a carrier. Caring for our children means that we need to be responsible adults. This begins at home and the parents must be held responsible," he added. Additionally, he mentioned that thus far, no children have been infected with the Omicron strain of the covid-19 virus. "So far, we have not seen a child infected with the new Omicron strain. There might be children who are treated at home for a cold or cough, and their strains might have not been tested. But within the hospital, none of the children are severely sick, none of the children have the Omicron strain and the children seem to be more resilient now," he concluded Dr Channa De Silva is a Consultant Pediatric Pulmonologist at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital in Colombo.