SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – The number of children diagnosed with COVID-19 in Florida has more than doubled, according to the latest statistics from the Florida Department of Health.
According to officials, COVID-19 cases among children in Florida have increased by 137% in the past month. Hospitalizations among children have also increased by 105%.
At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Southwest Miami-Dade, however, admission rates have remained roughly the same since May.
“Otherwise, we need to make sure that we do not see any increase in hospital admissions, and certainly ICU admissions, from the uptick in positivity rates,” said Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Dr. G. Keith Meyer. “They should also keep an eye on their children, keep waiting, and any child who has a high fever, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, they should call their pediatrician or health care provider for support and assistance.”
Although the death toll remains low in children, Florida has lost seven children to the virus.
Dr. William A. Haseltine, an expert on infectious diseases, outlined the age groups affected by the virus, beginning with ages 0 to 5.
“Children are at risk, and they have to wear masks,” Haseltine said. ‘They are very infected with other people. It turns out that they have 1,000 times more virus in their nose than you have to infect. ”
He added that children between 6 years and 12 years old are most at risk, and those between 13 years and 19 years are equal to adults.
“They’re just like adults,” Haseltine said. “If you look at the number of people who are in the hospital right now, the majority of people who are in the hospital right now, they are from 15 to 60.”
The spike in numbers may be linked to a greater emphasis on testing people and more children returning to circulation.
“We will bring 50 million more children into close contact,” Haseltine said. ‘I think you’m waiting for a second fire to break out. You throw fuel on a raging fire. ”
Meyer said on any given day at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, there are about four children in the Intensive Care Unit who are battling an illness related to COVID-19.
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