New York witnesses four fold surge pediatric hospitalizations as Omicron cases sore

With Omicron cases on the rise, New York health officials have reported an uptick in youngsters being admitted to hospitals, even as the White House committed on Sunday to address the COVID-19 test shortage in the United States.

The New York State Department of Health warned “of an upward trend in paediatric hospitalisations associated with COVID-19 ,” in a statement Friday.

In New York City, it “identified four-fold increases in COVID-19 hospital admissions for children 18 and under beginning the week of 5 December through the current week,” it said.

Approximately half of the admissions are younger than five, an age group that is vaccine ineligible, the department added.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States is on the rise, with an average of nearly 190,000 new infections daily over the past seven days, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.

The arrival of the new Omicron variant, compounded by holiday celebrations that typically include travel and family reunions, have caused a rush on tests in the United States, where it is difficult to get one in many locations.

Top US pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci on Sunday acknowledged a COVID “testing problem” and vowed to make more tests available to Americans next month.

“One of the problems is that that’s not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested,” Fauci told ABC News.

“But we’re addressing the testing problem,” he added, saying it should be corrected “very soon.”

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced a raft of new measures as the United States battles its latest Covid surge, including shipping half a billion free home tests in the wake of the Christmastime testing crunch.

However, the White House, whose strategy has for weeks been mainly focused on vaccinations, has faced strong criticism over the fact that many tests won’t be available until January.

Fauci on Sunday emphasised that the administration was ramping up to tackle the spike and stressed that Omicron was “extraordinarily contagious.”

Apart from overwhelming hospitals and COVID-19 testing sites, the COVID-19 variant has forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the United States, as crews called in sick or had to quarantine after exposure to the virus.

Recent studies in South Africa and Britain indicate that Omicron was less likely to lead to hospitalisation than the previous strains of the virus and that the duration of hospital stays and oxygen needs for patients were lower, Fauci noted.

But he also warned that Omicron’s apparent lower severity is likely to be neutralised by how fast it is spreading.
“The issue that we don’t want to get complacent about… is that when you have such a high volume of new infections, it might override a real diminution in severity,” Fauci said.

Medically Speaking Team

Recent Posts

Harness the Power of Rice Water

Rice water, rich in inositol, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, protects hair from sunlight damage and…

6 hours ago

“8 Powerful Herbs and Supplements to Beat Bloating and Boost Your Gut Health Naturally”

Natural Remedies for Bloating: 8 Herbs and Supplements That Work Wonders for Your Gut Health…

6 hours ago

“Unlock the Power of Oil Pulling: Discover How This Simple Practice Improves Oral Health and Freshens Your Breath”

Benefits of Oil Pulling: Stops Bad Breath, Keeps Gums Healthy, But Can't Replace Brushing Oil…

6 hours ago

WHY DO YOU EXPERIENCE RUNNY NOSE AFTER EATING SPICY FOOD?

Spicy food – whether it’s a dash of chili in your curry, a spoonful of…

6 hours ago

“4 Simple Tests to Spot Adulterated Wheat Flour: Protect Your Health with These Easy Checks”

How To Identify Adulterated Wheat Flour? Try These 4 Easy Tests Wheat flour is a…

6 hours ago

“Unlock the Power of Jaggery: 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Eating It After Every Meal”

Reasons That Will Make You Eat Jaggery After Every Meal (Potential Health Benefits Inside) Jaggery,…

7 hours ago