https://www.myjoyonline.com/kath-to-probe-surging-paediatric-covid-19-cases-as-11-day-baby-is-infected/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/kath-to-probe-surging-paediatric-covid-19-cases-as-11-day-baby-is-infected/

The alarming rate of paediatric Covid-19 cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has compelled authorities to conduct further investigations into the trend.

The hospital has within 10 days recorded nine Covid-19 positive cases among children, including an 11-day-old baby as against 14 recorded in last year.

Some of the children are reported to have died from Covid-19 complications.

Head of Child Health Directorate, Prof Sampson Antwi tells Joy News the situation calls for further probe into the strain.

"The Covid strain that we are having now is really also affecting children seriously. If less than 2-weeks we are getting 9 cases, we don't know where we are going ," says Head of Child Health Directorate, Prof Sampson Antwi revealed.

"We are having a huge surge in Covid positive cases and the disease initially, children were said to be spared. We had 14 the whole of last year but this year, just the spate of 10-days, we got 9 positive cases," he added.

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital recorded 14 paediatric Covid-19 cases in the past 5 months.

The recorded active cases of Covid-19 in children were among 504 samples taken at the facility.

After testing, 251 tested positive, representing 49.8 per cent.

Doctors at KATH are disturbed at the infection rate among children.

Head of Child Health Directorate, Prof Sampson Antwi says further investigations need to be conducted.

"I think we need to do more research and find out whether the new strain is different," he said.

"I don't know whether clinical cases that we are testing belongs to the new strain.  What I know is that they say those tested at the Airport showed some of the new strains. We don't know whether they have gotten to the community.

"It appears to be more violent or infectious".

Prof Antwi says though earlier studies suggest children were spared of Covid-19, the trend has changed.

"Probably the catarrh antibodies that children get that was able to protect them somehow may not be able to do the same for this current strain".

Meanwhile, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital says it can no longer admit more patients as its wards are full.

Officials have appealed for a Covid-19 treatment centre for children.

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