B.C. newborn discharged from hospital while elementary-aged child still in ICU with COVID-19
Two B.C. children, one of them a newborn, were in intensive care units due to COVID-19 on Monday, but the province's health minister says the infant is now at home.
On Monday afternoon after completing a conference with reporters, Adrian Dix tweeted a chart showing the vaccination status and ages of those in critical care that included one patient less than 28 days old and another between the ages of 10 and 12; there was no further comment or explanation.
“I'm happy to report that the infant in ICU has been discharged healthy and that’s good news,” said Dix when CTV News asked about the children Tuesday.
A communication staffer later confirmed that the infant has been fully discharged from hospital as of Tuesday afternoon but didn’t explain how the newborn could go from needing critical care to being at home literally overnight.
“We have is a fairly low barrier for critical care," insisted Dix, who reiterated that children have been at a lower risk of severe illness from COVID-19 compared to adults. “Overall we've had a very low rate of hospitalization amongst children and youth since the beginning of the pandemic and that continues to be the case now."
A CTV News analysis of data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control found the number of minors hospitalized with COVID-19 doubled after April 3. Until then there were 52 kids under 10 ever hospitalized with COVID, but by the end of August it was 104. For those between the ages of 11 and 19, it went from 40 to 78. This week last year, there had been just three kids under 10 in hospital with COVID-19 and two youth aged 11 to 19.
“The highest percent positivity has consistently been in the 10-14 year-olds, since (the first week of August),” note the authors of the latest report.
CTV News asked B.C. Children’s Hospital to confirm the newborn and elementary school-aged child were treated by their pediatric specialists, but they said their privacy regulations prevented any discussion of those cases; the Ministry of Health wouldn’t even say which health authority the children are in, citing privacy legislation.
Last month, an 11-week-old baby in Kelowna was hospitalized overnight with COVID-19 symptoms but recovered at home.
WARNINGS FROM ONE OF CANADA'S TOP DOCTORS
While B.C.’s top health officials have repeatedly insisted children are at low risk of severe illness and only catch COVID in high numbers when there are many cases in their communities, one of Canada’s top doctors is urging them to prioritize the precautionary principle and do everything possible to minimize pediatric cases.
"The impact of COVID on children goes beyond just the hospitalization – of course, severe illness and death is the worst case scenario – but long COVID is one of them and we're just starting to understand what that looks like on children," said Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
The Yukon-based pediatrician pointed out that about two per cent of children infected with the Delta variant will be hospitalized, with about a third of those spending time in ICU.
"(The Delta variant) is very efficient at spreading through populations of unvaccinated people and of course in our country the biggest group of unvaccinated people is under the age of 12," said Smart, advocating for masks for all school children and greater transparency about COVID cases in schools. “I think a lot of parents are finding it distressing to think there could be a case of COVID in their school or classroom and they're not aware of it."
But provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry believes it’s more anxiety-provoking to be told about cases and has decided parents may not be notified, since public health would now be treating COVID-19 like other infectious diseases.
"We will not be doing the notifications to school if there's been a single exposure,” she said on Sept. 2. “They'll be doing an assessment as we do for every communicable disease and every individual who is at risk will be notified.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.