Hospitalization of children testing positive for COVID-19 on the rise

Caution has been advised as children testing positive for COVID-19 are on the rise as Maldives battle a sudden increase in infections after months of significantly lower cases.

Pediatrician Dr. Ahmed Faisal told Sun on Friday that three children who tested positive for COVID-19 are being treated after hospitalization. They include a two-month-old baby and a one-year-old.

The one-year-old had also suffered a COVID-19-related seizure attack. A seizure attack is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity between brain cells causing abnormalities in muscle tone or movements including stiffness, twitching or limpness affecting behaviors, sensations or states of awareness.

Dr. Faisal said a large number of children have been hospitalized following COVID-19 infections within the past two weeks – with some of them suffering seizures while others pneumonia.

Therewith, he urged the public to exercise caution before the situation exacerbates any further including the immunization of children and parents through vaccination.

HPA’s statistics for last week show an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections reported as well as hospitalizations.

4 cases were reported last week; 73 cases from Male’ area and 11 cases from other regions. Only 39 cases had been reported in the previous week – therewith – an increase of 45 cases. This marks the first time the greatest number of cases have been recorded since early November.

Starting early November, COVID-19 cases recorded had continuously decreased week by week. Till late March, weekly cases averaged between 15 and 20.

COVID-19-related hospitalization recorded last week had also increased compared to previous weeks. As per HPA’s statistics – COVID-19 hospitalizations last peaked during late October and early November with 25 people. Till mid-March, hospitalization remained below 10.

However, 17 hospitalizations were recorded last week, while 16 were recorded the week before.

Maldives has recorded a total of 185,894 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic with 311 fatalities.