Manitoba monitoring COVID infections in kids

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This article was published 16/08/2021 (1747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kids younger than 10 have made up nearly one-fifth of COVID-19 cases in Manitoba since the end of July, as public health officials monitor reports of more children being admitted to hospital in areas hit hard by the Delta variant.

Provincial data show 80 out of the 456 COVID-19 infections reported from July 29 to Aug. 15 involved children under the age of 10, or about 17.5 per cent of all cases in that period.

Deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal said the high rate of infection among young people — compared to people 40 and over who accounted for 33.6 per cent of all cases in that time — can likely be attributed to their unvaccinated status.

“Those who aren’t vaccinated will be the ones who will be getting infections,” Atwal said Monday during a briefing with reporters. “So we’re going to look at measures to mitigate that risk, balancing that with child development and other risks associated with those measures as well.”

“We have to be careful on implementing strict measures, because strict measures have negative outcomes as well.”

As of Monday, 68 per cent of Manitobans aged 12 to 17 have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 56.6 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Manitobans who were born in 2010 and later are not eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine because it is not yet approved by Health Canada.

Atwal said the province is aware of other jurisdictions in the midst of a fourth wave reporting a “tremendous” amount of COVID-19 cases, especially in younger kids, with early reports of more severe outcomes within that age group.

In parts of the United States, particularly areas with low vaccination rates, pediatric COVID-19 cases have been on the rise, with hospital admissions reaching a record of 1,902 across the country Saturday, Reuters reported.

“We’re monitoring our situation as well, and we’re going to continue to learn from other jurisdictions and really understand that risk, and where it may lead to in the future as well,” Atwal said.

Since the start of July, nine Manitobans 18 or younger were hospitalized for COVID-19, or 1.3 per cent of cases in that age group. No patients were admitted to intensive care.

Of all Manitoba COVID-19 cases in people 18 and under, 120 were hospitalized (0.9 per cent) and 12 needed an ICU bed.

In the fall, as thousands of students return to class for a “near-normal” school year, during which masks are only recommended, Atwal said the number of infections in kids is expected to rise with increased interaction.

However, he said public health is paying particular attention to severe outcomes — hospitalizations and deaths — and how that affects young Manitobans who catch the virus.

“We’re looking at measures to mitigate that risk on a public health side within these settings as well, so specifically, schools, classrooms, we are working through our public health measures and guidance,” Atwal said. “Once things there are finalized we will provide that to the public and to those institutions as well to help mitigate that risk of developing infections in those who can’t be vaccinated at this point.”

After children under the age of 10, Manitobans in their 30s accounted for 20.1 per cent of the cases; while people in their 20s had 16 per cent of cases.

Manitobans age 10 to 19 accounted for 12.7 per cent of infections.

According to the province, 74 per cent of Manitobans in their 30s have at least one dose of the vaccine; 75.2 per cent of people in their 20s have at least one shot.

As of Monday, 80.9 per cent of Manitobans age 12 and up had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 74.3 per cent of them were fully vaccinated.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca