COVID concerns mount as it relates to children
A TWO-MONTH-OLD child is among 31 new cases of COVID19 recorded by the health ministry yesterday, pushing the tally to 288.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported that a four-yearold child from Montego Bay died as a result of COVID-19, increasing the death toll from the disease to seven in Jamaica.
Medical practitioner, Dr Shane Alexis, is suggesting that the Government through its officers in the Ministry of Health should comment on the country’s capacity to deal with cases of COVID-19 in the paediatric age group.
“So far international literature on the impact of the virus on children is much less severe generally speaking, but I would urge that we get a full understanding as to how we go forward in managing children who have contracted it,” said Alexis, who is also the Opposition junior spokesman on health.
He said because of the specialty that is required to treat children, questions need to be asked about the country’s capacity.
Alexis said the question becomes paramount when viewed against the fact that one child has already lost his life because of COVID-19.
“It is a very pertinent question because as you know, the Bustamante Children’s Hospital is the only paediatric hospital, not only in the English-speaking Caribbean but certainly in Jamaica. But there’s a limitation with intensive care beds and what of trained staff.
“And the same goes for the university in terms of high dependency care for children. I think it would be very reassuring for the Government to comment on the capacity for paediatric age group separate from that of adults,” he said.
Alexis mentioned that the preventative measures still hold true for children.