DOH: COVID-19 cases high among children below 2 yrs old, teens aged 15-19

MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 cases are high among children who are less than two years old and those aged 15 to 19, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

“May datos tayo ng 0 to 19 years old. Ito ang mga considered na part of pediatrics group. Kapag tiningnan natin ang datos na ito, ang mataas na bilang ng mga nagkakaroon [ng COVID-19] ay less than two years old,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online media briefing.

(We have data of cases from those aged 19 and below. These are the ages that are part of the pediatrics group. If we look at this data, the high number of cases are from those aged less than two years.)

“As the age increases, pagdating ng mga 15 hanggang 19 years old, doon pa rin ang nakikita natin na mas mataas kumpara sa mga age groups,” she added.

(As the age increases, COVID-19 cases are higher among those aged 15 to 19.)

Vergeire explained that COVID-19 cases may be higher among those aged two years and below because they are directly cared for by their mothers.

“Pinag-aaralan talaga ito but of course we will assume na sila talaga ‘yung closely monitored or closely cared for by their mothers and maaaring doon nanggagaling ang impeksyon,” she said.

(This is being studied but of course, we will assume that they are closely monitored and cared for by their mothers and this is probably where the infection is coming from.)

“That is an assumption. Pinag-aaralan pa ng ating mga eksperto kung bakit mas mataas ang bilang ng mga kaso dito sa mga less than two years old,” she added.

(That is an assumption. Our experts are still studying why cases are high among those less than two years old.)

The national government earlier allowed children aged five years and up in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ), except those under heightened restrictions, in specific outdoor facilities.

Vergeire said this was because studies have shown that the developmental stages of children are already being affected by lockdowns.

“Nagkakakaroon na sila ng issues both physically and mentally at ‘yung kanilang developmental stages ay nahahamper at naaapektuhan because of the lockdowns because they cannot interact properly with other people,” she said.

(They are already having issues both physically and mentally and their developmental stages are being hampered because of lockdowns and because they cannot interact properly with other people.)

However, she reminded parents and guardians to still follow health protocols in taking their kids outside.

“Kailangan as much as possible maintain your bubble. Baka biglang nagsasama na ang different bubbles doon sa pinupuntahan ng mga bata, isa rin ‘yan na pwedeng maging risk para magkaroon ng infection ang ating mga kabataan,” Vergeire said.

(As much as possible, maintain your bubble. Interacting with different bubbles in areas where the children go may also pose a risk for infection.)

The DOH is not yet recommending the inclusion of children in the vaccination priority until there is a stable supply of vaccines in the country.

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