The seven-year-old Georgian boy who became the youngest person in the state to die from coronavirus drowned in a bathing suit after suffering a seizure caused by his high fever, found an autopsy.
The child, who was not named, is thought to have been given COVID-19 after attending a church in Savannah, where two elderly worshipers also died from the virus.
Chatham County Coroner Bill Wessinger described the results of the boy’s autopsy to CNN on Monday, saying seizures due to high fever are very common in children with coronavirus.
Wessinger said the boy died about two weeks before his death last Thursday was reported by the county health department.
The seven-year-old Georgian boy who became the youngest in the state to die of coronavirus last week drowned in a bathtub after suffering a seizure caused by his high fever, found an autopsy. The boy, who was not named, is believed to have contracted the virus after attending the Savannah Holy Church of God (pictured)
The boy was found irresponsible in the bath and was pronounced dead at a hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19 postmortem, Wessinger said.
The conclusion of seizure came from a preliminary report, and the final report is still pending toxicological reports.
The boy, who was African-American, had no underlying health conditions, Wessinger confirmed.
He added that Georgia’s health department is still investigating whether the boy attended the Savannah Holy Church of God, which has been linked to at least nine cases of coronavirus and two deaths.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp called the boy’s death ‘absolutely tragic’ when he was first announced last week as the youngest in the state.
Dr Lawton Davis, director of coastal health district, said the baby’s death was ‘particularly heartbreaking’.
“Every COVID-19 death we report is tragic, but to lose someone so young is especially heartbreaking,” he said.
“We know that older people and those with underlying conditions are at higher risk for complications, but this is a disease that everyone should take seriously.”
Coastal Health District Director Dr Lawton Davis is seen announcing the boy’s death last week. He said it was ‘particularly heartbreaking’ to see someone who had succumbed to the virus at such a young age
Georgia is among 21 states with outbreaks that have been seriously enough placed in the ‘red zone’ by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, according to a federal report. The graph above shows daily increases in new cases – of which more than 219,000 have been confirmed to date
Georgia has so far reported a total of 4,229 deaths. Daily deaths are shown above
Georgia is among 21 states with outbreaks that have been seriously enough placed in the ‘red zone’ by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, according to a federal report obtained last month by The New York Times.
The state reported 2,440 new infections and 32 new deaths on Monday, bringing its totals to 219,025 and 4,229, respectively.
Black people make up about a third of Georgia’s population, but they account for about half of all coronavirus deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Gov. Kemp has encouraged people to wear face masks, but has a hand in a mask mandate.
He sued Atlanta over a request for a mask and steps by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to reopen plans because they were in conflict with his mandates.
Kemp has also opposed re-implementing stricter restrictions on companies.
More than 2,000 medical professionals wrote to Kemp recently, advocating for the governor to take up a mask mandate and take tougher measures to curb the spread.
Fear of more children contracting the virus is increasing as more and more Georgian schools open.
Nine cases were reported at North Paulding High School in Paulding County last week – within days of classes returning.
The school received national attention after photos of maskless students went viral in their corridors – raising questions about how campuses across the country will be able to keep children and staff safe.
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