Officials from Singapore's Ministry of Health announced the tragic news of the city's first Covid-19-related death in a patient under 12 years old.
A 1-and-a-half-year-old child died yesterday from brain inflammation and two additional viral illnesses, respiratory syncytial virus and enterovirus, caused by Covid-19, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health last night.
"The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been notified that a 1.5-year-old male Singaporean with Covid-19 infection died on June 27, 2022," the ministry said in a statement. This is the first fatality in Singapore caused by Covid in a patient less than 12 years old.
According to the ministry, the infant was admitted to the KK Women's and Children's Hospital on the evening of 21 June with high fever and convulsions. He was then hospitalized to the Children's Intensive Care Unit and diagnosed with acute meningoencephalitis, a serious brain inflammation.
The infant also got a positive polymerase chain reaction test for Covid-19.
Vaccinations are presently only accessible for children 5 years and older in Singapore. However, the Ministry of Health has stated that it will "examine" vaccines for younger children whenever manufacturers submit them.
The hospital has contacted the infant's relatives.
"MOH sends our heartfelt sympathies to the family of the patient. According to what we understand, KKH is in contact with the family to give the required help," the ministry added.
In the preceding week, an average of 5,800 cases per day had been recorded in Singapore over the past month. The majority of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are less harmful than prior strains, according to the ministry. Despite this, the government has stated that indoor masks and large-scale activities would continue to be prohibited.
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