3-Year-Old COVID-Positive Child Fighting For Life In Intensive Care Unit

KEY POINTS

A 4-year-old child, who died Friday, became the youngest fatality in Hong Kong
The country has till now seen 219 deaths from COVID-19
Experts say 4 percent of patients are now four years old or younger

A 3-year-old girl in Hong Kong is reportedly fighting for her life in an intensive care unit after testing positive for COVID-19.

The incident comes as the fifth wave of coronavirus in the country has hit children aged four and below. According to local media reports, a 4-year-old child died at his home Friday, after suffering from nausea and vomiting. Later, the child's test results came back positive for COVID-19. He also became the youngest fatality of COVID-19 among the 219 dead.

Four patients were reported to be in critical condition Sunday, including the 3-year-old girl, the Standard HK reported. Authorities said the girl was in good health, but later developed COVID-19 symptoms. She was then admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on Saturday after her condition deteriorated. The child, who has not been identified, was again transferred to the ICU at Hong Kong Children's Hospital. However, her critical condition did not require her to use an artificial lung machine as of Monday.

Amid the growing number of COVID-19 cases among children, Chuang Shuk-kwan – the head of communicable diseases at the Center for Health Protection – reportedly said 4 percent of patients are now four years old or younger.

"It is very different from the previous four waves, when only a small number of children were infected," she said, adding pediatricians believe COVID-19 may trigger complications in young children more easily than adults.

Health authorities reported 1,347 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, as they announced three types of patients – namely the elderly, children and those in serious condition – will receive priority during hospital admission. The move was taken amid a surge in infections.

"We would try to reserve hospital beds, and also some of the beds in the North Lantau [Hospital] Hong Kong Infection Control Center, and try to make sure patients can be admitted in due course," Larry Lee said, according to RTHK.HK.

"We call for young and stable patients with mild symptoms to stay calm and wait at home," Lee added. "If you call for an ambulance it will only add to our workload and obstruct patients in need from being admitted to hospitals."