Over 1500 children contracted COVID in the past year in Guyana

Dr. Anthony said with the various variants of the virus, more children are contracting it and spreading it. He said while in most cases, the symptoms are mild, there have been cases where children were severely infected. There are currently four children hospitalised with COVID-19.

Over 1500 children contracted COVID in the past year in Guyana

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony today issued a call for adults to take added precautions to protect their children from contracting the coronavirus.

During his daily update today, the Health Minister revealed that in the past year, over 1500 children have tested positive for COVID-19.

There have been at least two children who died after being hospitalised with the virus.

Dr. Anthony said with the various variants of the virus, more children are contracting it and spreading it. He said while in most cases, the symptoms are mild, there have been cases where children were severely infected. There are currently four children hospitalised with COVID-19.

“I think it’s important that we take the necessary precautions especially with our children and ensure that they are protected and that they wear masks when it is necessary if they are going out because this virus as we can see, can affect children and I don’t think a lot of people have paid attention to it and therefore is time we pay attention to this especially now that we are seeing not just the mild cases in children but we are seeing the more severe forms of COVID among the children population”, Health Minister Frank Anthony revealed.

Schools in Guyana have been closed for more than a year because of the pandemic. But with many of the adults heading out to work and going about their daily lives with not enough precautions, the virus is making its way back into the homes and affecting the lives of children.

Minister Anthony said in many of the cases involving children, respiratory illnesses appear to be top the list of complaints.

“We have also seen complications when children get infected and there is a syndrome that is called multiple systems inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) and basically what you will see is multi-organ failure in them, elevated markers and fever and so forth. We haven’t really seen it in Guyana but its a complication of COVID-19 when children get it”, he explained.

The Ministry of Education is looking at the possibility of reopening schools in September, but has made it clear that it will be guided by the advice of the Ministry of Health.

Schools are only being allowed face to face learning for High school students preparing for regional examinations and primary school students who will be in class for their common entrance examinations.

Guyana continues to see a rise in COVID-19 cases with a daily average of 100 new cases being recorded.

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