COVID-19 pediatric hospitalizations in Florida reach record highs

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The number of new hospital admissions of adults with COVID-19 in Florida continues on a general downward trend, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Data shows that the total number of adult patients with COVID-19 in the state has also declined over the past week.

But the number of new pediatric admissions and the total number of COVID-19 pediatric patients in Florida each hit record highs on Tuesday. According to HHS data, the number of new pediatric admissions in the state – 72 – as of Tuesday was only one more than the previous record. On Tuesday, the data showed the total number of pediatric patients – 230 – was up six from Monday’s number, which had been a record.

In Jacksonville, 17 children were hospitalized with COVID-19 at Wolfson Children’s Hospital on Tuesday – four of whom were in the intensive care unit.

Dr Asma Salahuddin, a hospital pediatrician in Wolfson, spoke to News4Jax about what’s going on inside her patients.

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“When the child is sick, several family members are sick, so there are times when I am FaceTiming with a parent who is also in a hospital bed while their child is in the hospital,” he said. said Salahuddin. “We have had a few deaths, but not as many as on the adult side. But just going through that and watching a kid tell you that he can’t breathe, that he can’t breathe deeply and experience this on his own, if it can be avoided, that’s kind of what we request.

Salahuddin said she sees adolescents who could have been vaccinated seem to be suffering the most.

“I would say that compared to last year we are definitely seeing an upward trend and more disease. Teenage patients who come in with acute COVID pneumonia, they seem to be the sickest of all compared to all the other illnesses we see with COVID, ”said Salahuddin. “However, we see all ages being admitted.”

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It’s not just in Jacksonville where children are infected with COVID-19. In Clay County, the health department said last week that children made up 20% of new cases there – which is similar to the statewide trend.

When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was in Jacksonville on Monday, News4Jax asked him about children and COVID-19.

“As a child, yes, it’s sweet, luckily. They are recovering from it. They take care of it very well and, in fact, if you look at the statistics, elementary school students – barring a major health problem – but a typical elementary school student is less likely to be unvaccinated than an adult. means vaccinated, even if the vaccination helps the adult, ”DeSantis said. “That’s how low the risk was. “

Wolfson’s doctors say COVID-19 vaccines are the most important tool, but being responsible for masking and social distancing is the key to beating the coronavirus and protecting children.