A 4th Mississippi child dies from COVID as delta variant creates issues for young people
By Patrick Magee
July 28, 2021 02:22 PM,
Updated July 28, 2021 02:35 PM
Dr. Fauci talks about the growing threat of the Delta variant
Dr. Anthony Fauci addresses the rising threat of what the World Health Organization calls the 'fastest and fittest' COVID variant yet. The rapid spread of the delta coronavirus variant has forced some countries to reinforce lockdowns. By CPSAN
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Mississippi has had its fourth child die from COVID-19, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs announced on Wednesday during a press conference.
Dobbs has spoken recently about data that shows that increasingly younger people are battling severe cases of the coronavirus. He said this week that 17 percent of those currently hospitalized with COVID are in the 40-49 age group.
The main reason for the increased danger to younger age groups is the delta variant of COVID-19, which has recently become the dominant strain in the U.S. after first wreaking havoc in India.
Dobbs said Wednesday that 93% of the recent COVID samples taken in the state are the delta variant.
“It’s highly contagious and most of the transmission is occurring from the unvaccinated,” Dobbs said. “Ninety-five percent of our new cases are unvaccinated.”
Children 12 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine, but it has yet to approved for younger children.
Dobbs said that there have been four deaths in children in Mississippi since the start of the pandemic. Two are in the age range of 11-17, one in the 6-10 age group and one that was between the ages of 1 and 5.
“The recent death was a child who had an underlying health issue, but it was a common medical issue,” Dobbs said. “It’s not something that people don’t live with every day in Mississippi.
“It speaks to our need to prevent transmission. We are unfortunately going to see a tragedy like this from time to time.”
The number of children under the age of 18 hospitalized in Mississippi with COVID-19 is currently 10 with three in intensive care, Dobbs said on Wednesday. He also noted that many pediatric cases are sent to hospitals in surrounding states in places like Memphis and Mobile.
Dobbs said that the COVID threat to children will remain a possibility as long as the delta variant, which is twice as contagious as the original COVID strain, continues to spread easily among unvaccinated people.
“The vast majority of our kids are not immune. We have a big challenge going forward,” Dobbs said.
Dr. Paul Byers, who is the state epidemiologist, said that the best answer to protect children and their relatives is to seek out the vaccine.
“We encourage parents to get kids who are eligible vaccinated,” Byers said. “This can help prevent transmission in school settings and among the vulnerable population, especially when you have a situation where there is a shared household.”
By Patrick Magee
July 28, 2021 02:22 PM,
Updated July 28, 2021 02:35 PM
Dr. Fauci talks about the growing threat of the Delta variant
Dr. Anthony Fauci addresses the rising threat of what the World Health Organization calls the 'fastest and fittest' COVID variant yet. The rapid spread of the delta coronavirus variant has forced some countries to reinforce lockdowns. By CPSAN
This article has Unlimited Access. For more coverage, sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our commitment to public service journalism: Subscribe Now.
Mississippi has had its fourth child die from COVID-19, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs announced on Wednesday during a press conference.
Dobbs has spoken recently about data that shows that increasingly younger people are battling severe cases of the coronavirus. He said this week that 17 percent of those currently hospitalized with COVID are in the 40-49 age group.
The main reason for the increased danger to younger age groups is the delta variant of COVID-19, which has recently become the dominant strain in the U.S. after first wreaking havoc in India.
Dobbs said Wednesday that 93% of the recent COVID samples taken in the state are the delta variant.
“It’s highly contagious and most of the transmission is occurring from the unvaccinated,” Dobbs said. “Ninety-five percent of our new cases are unvaccinated.”
Children 12 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine, but it has yet to approved for younger children.
Dobbs said that there have been four deaths in children in Mississippi since the start of the pandemic. Two are in the age range of 11-17, one in the 6-10 age group and one that was between the ages of 1 and 5.
“The recent death was a child who had an underlying health issue, but it was a common medical issue,” Dobbs said. “It’s not something that people don’t live with every day in Mississippi.
“It speaks to our need to prevent transmission. We are unfortunately going to see a tragedy like this from time to time.”
The number of children under the age of 18 hospitalized in Mississippi with COVID-19 is currently 10 with three in intensive care, Dobbs said on Wednesday. He also noted that many pediatric cases are sent to hospitals in surrounding states in places like Memphis and Mobile.
Dobbs said that the COVID threat to children will remain a possibility as long as the delta variant, which is twice as contagious as the original COVID strain, continues to spread easily among unvaccinated people.
“The vast majority of our kids are not immune. We have a big challenge going forward,” Dobbs said.
Dr. Paul Byers, who is the state epidemiologist, said that the best answer to protect children and their relatives is to seek out the vaccine.
“We encourage parents to get kids who are eligible vaccinated,” Byers said. “This can help prevent transmission in school settings and among the vulnerable population, especially when you have a situation where there is a shared household.”
