Saint Lucia has recorded its first pediatric COVID-19 death – a three-year-old female from Babonneau.
In making the announcement, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Sharon Belmar-George explained that the Respiratory Hospital admitted the child on January 27, and she died on February 8.
“The Ministry of Health expresses sincere condolences to the family affected at this time,” Belmar-George said.
According to the CMO, cases below 18 years of age make up 10-13% of COVID-19 cases.
“These cases have been mild and have recovered well. The main risk factors for severe COVID-19 in children include chronic lung disease, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, prematurity, and airway abnormality,” Belmar-George explained.
As of February 13, 2022, Saint Lucia had diagnosed 22,121 COVID-19 cases with 1,544 active cases presently.
For the last seven days, the daily infection rate has been 28.1 per 100,000 population per day – a 55% reduction from last week, with a 37% average testing positivity rate and a transmission rate of 1.6.
Saint Lucia has also recorded 348 COVID-19 deaths.
“We continue to note reductions in the public health indicators and the downward trend in the epidemiological curve. We forecast to be within the normal country threshold by the third week towards the end of February 2022,” Belmar-George disclosed.
The CMO’s complete statement appears below:
@Smh Well said. Sincere condolences to the family friends and loved ones
Can you somehow find a way to admit that you causing more problems to this island healthcare system? Anyways, in this banana republic someone or few must be dead 1st before any changes.
What is wrong with you people? A child lost their life and the first thing that comes to mind is your conspiracy theories and your Christianity belief?!?
Most of you are sick in the damm head.
My heart goes out to the family and to the child, they never got to grow up, never got to choose their career or experience what we take for granted every single day. I hope the family recovers from this pain they are feeling
The first paediatric death – we NEED to make it THE LAST!! To all the “finger pointers” – do you know IF the child had underlying conditions? If the child’s immune system (which is just developing at that age) was working properly? If the child was taking any medication (these chemical pharmaceuticals can play a deadly game in a child’s body) for whatever was ailing her/him? (Asthma, pneumonia – the list is long).
Someone HAD to infect the child from a close proximity … all will be revealed in the post mortem; if there is going to be one. We still NEED to sanitise, wash hands, wear masks – and if possible, vaccinate. A friend of mine bathes her toddler twice a day (sometimes three times, depending on their movements) with a mild sanitiser soap. A little bit helps. Right now with this story – I know she will be quite paranoid!!
Stop pointing fingers, and MIND YOUR BUSINESS!!
Just in time to push for shots for 5 and unders. Roast in the fires of hell.
Because the information came out .Otherwise The Cmo wouldn’t say a word
Fear just in time for rollout of these shots for kids. Well planned. RIP kiddo. You’re in a better place.