AS OF August 21, 2021, a total of 423 children below one-year-old in Davao Region have been infected with the Sars-CoV-2, which causes the Covid-19. Of this number 20 have died. While it has the lowest number of infected persons and the second-lowest number of deaths among age groups, it has the third-highest mortality rate at 4.7 percent.
Data also showed that a total of 2,924 children aged one to nine years old had tested positive for the virus, wherein 15 died from the disease. The case fatality rate was at 0.5 percent.
For ages 10 to 19 years old, 6,114 tested positive in the region, wherein 23 died from Covid-19, with a fatality rate of 0.4 percent.
In Davao City, there are a total of 1,823 cases in the age group 0-9 years old. Of this number, 15 have died. The city also logged a total of 3,172 Covid-19 cases in the age group 10-19 years old. Seventeen have died under the 10-19 years old age group.
While health officials did not elaborate how the children were infected with Covid-19, it is safe to assume that the children were infected through family members who are working or going outside regularly.
Hence, it is important for working family members, who are mostly part of the 20 to 40 na age group, to heed minimum health standards.
"Nagsaka ang cases. Most likely, mao ning variants na gina-ingon nila mas infectious na nakaigo sa mga batan-on. All the more we have a reason na kinahanglan ang mga ginikanan and mga adult consistent sa pag observe sa minimum public health standards and magpabakuna sila if there are already given schedule (There is a rise of cases, most likely these are the variants which they say more infectious and can infect minors. All the more, we have a reason for the parents and the adults to consistently observe minimum public health standards and get vaccinated if they have been given a schedule)," Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said on Monday during her special program on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
This means that we should continually follow the minimum health standards put in place by the government and health experts -- wearing face masks, observing social distancing, and regular washing or sanitizing of hands.
The mayor said in response to the increasing cases among minors, the City has already allocated pediatric isolation facility and is open to convert adult isolation facilities in case there would be a surge in the number of children with Covid-19.
Dr. Raquel Montejo, DOH-Davao Local Health Support Division chief, encouraged breastfeeding mothers to be inoculated and transfer the benefit of the Covid-19 vaccine to their babies.
While the case fatality rate among minors remains lower compared to other age groups, it is still a cause for concern. With those below 18 years old not being vaccinated against Covid-19, the disease can still be fatal to some of them. This data serves as a reminder for us to always be careful whenever we go out. Wear your mask, social distance, and wash your hands. Also, we encourage you to get your vaccine against the disease.