COVID19: A marked rise has been seen in the number of children admitted to hospital in South Africa - the epicentre of the new Omicron variant - but cases are 'mild', a public health expert has said
A marked rise has been seen in the number of children admitted to hospital in South Africa - the epicentre of the new coronavirus Omicron variant - but cases are"mild", a public health expert has said.strain, which has spread rapidly around the world, could pose greater risks for youngsters.said the surge should trigger vigilance, not panic, with no link established and the potential impact of other factors.
Ntsakisi Maluleke, a public health specialist in Gauteng province which includes the capital Pretoria and the biggest city Johannesburg, said that out of the 1,511 COVID-positive patients in hospitals in the area, 113 were under nine-years-old, a greater proportion than during previous waves of infection.But she said:"We are comforted by clinicians' reports that the children have mild disease.
Health officials and scientists were currently investigating what was driving the increased admissions in younger ages and hoped to be able to provide more details shortly, she said.
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