Banner’s COVID-19 pediatric hospitalizations for January projected nearly 6 times higher than in October

PHOENIX – Data from the state’s largest hospital network shows that hospital admissions of COVID-19 pediatric patients in January are nearly six times higher than in October.

ABC15 has received internal data from Banner Health which shows that nearly 800 children have been admitted to their hospitals across Arizona.

Banner Health shared the graph below which shows the number of pediatric patients (under 18) who have been admitted.

In an email, Banner Health said:

Note: These statistics for Banner Arizona hospitals are not specific to ICU patients. They also include patients who required less care.

1. 795 children (18 and under) admitted with COVID since October 1, 2020
2. In November, 2.5 times more children were admitted with COVID than in October 2020
3. In December, 5 times more children were admitted with COVID than in October 2020
4. In January 2021, it seems that 6 times more children will be admitted with COVID than in October 2020 (the January number is projected, not the year number).

A recent report released last week by JAMA Pediatrics found that Arizona had the second highest rate of pediatric hospitalizations per 100,000 during the May-November study period.

“At the end of the study, Hawaii and New Hampshire had the lowest rates at 4.3 and 3.4 per 100,000 respectively and South Dakota and Arizona had the highest rates at 33, 7 and 32.8 per 100,000, ”says the study.

“Symptoms in children are generally milder than in adults and almost all pediatric patients can recover and be discharged, but the trend we’re seeing with more pediatric COVID-19 patients is concerning,” Banner officials said. Health.

Banner Health officials say they have capacity for children in their hospitals and there is no capacity issue.

“Parents need to make sure their children safely engage with others to protect them and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community,” Banner Health officials said.