NEW YORK SEES FOUR-FOLD INCREASE IN CHILDREN HOSPITALISED WITH COVID-19

Mon 27 December 2021:

New York has reported an alarming increase in child hospitalizations as the White House struggles to control the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the United States.

New York State Department of Health has issued a warning regarding “an upward trend in pediatric hospitalizations associated with COVID-19”.

“NYSDOH is closely monitoring an upward trend in paediatric hospitalisation associated with Covid-19,” the notice read, according to the New York Post.

“The risks of COVID-19 for children are real,” acting State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a release.

“We are alerting New Yorkers to this recent striking increase in pediatric COVID-19 admissions so that pediatricians, parents and guardians can take urgent action to protect our youngest New Yorkers. We must use all available safe and effective infection control, prevention and mitigation strategies,” she said.

Due to the new variant, Omicron, which has been dubbed one of the most transmissible coronavirus variants, the United States has seen a rapid increase in Covid cases. According to data provided by Johns Hopkins University, the country has been recording nearly 190,000 new infections per day in the last week.

The arrival of the Omicron variant coincided with the popular holiday season, when families traveled to see friends and family and Christmas parties were held.

Due to the increased travel and social interactions in the country, and the new variant, New York City “identified four-fold increases in COVID-19 hospital admissions for children 18 and under beginning the week of December 5 through the current week”.

The holiday season also increased the demand for Covid tests leading to a short supply. US pandemic expert and White House advisor, Anthony Fauci, also acknowledged the shortage of Covid tests. “One of the problems is that that’s not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested,” Fauci told ABC News. “But we’re addressing the testing problem.”

This increase has coincided with the shortage in the supply of American blood banks. Some American organisations have claimed that the blood banks have very limited supply and it is constantly decreasing. “We simply like to keep three days of inventory,” Chris Hrouda, president of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, said in a local interview. “We’re struggling to keep one day.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES | FILE PHOTO

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