The number of children being admitted to hospital with Covid in the North West has risen by almost 100 in the last week, and more than 200 in the last month, according to the latest government data.
A total of 2,035 children, ages 0 to 17, are in hospital with Covid in the region – an increase from 1,937 just seven days ago.
The 0 to five age group appears to be rising faster than the six to 17 age group in the last week in the North West, a pattern echoed nationally.
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Some 1,047 children aged 0 to five, and 988 aged six to 17 are in North West hospitals with Covid, as of December 29 – the latest data made available by the government.
The figures have steadily risen over the course of seven days, from 987 aged 0 to five, and 950 aged six to 17, as of December 23.
A total of 98 more admissions for Covid among children have been made in the last week, with over half, 60 cases, coming from the 0 to five age group.
On Boxing Day, the number of 0 to fives in hospital with the virus toppled over 1,000, while admissions among the six to 17 age bracket have been rising more slowly, but are now approaching the 1,000 mark.
The figures are, again, a rise on the same date last month.
As of November 29, there were 923 0 to five-year-olds in hospital with the virus, while there were 875 six to 17-year-olds admitted to North West units.
That’s a rise of 237 children hospitalised with Covid in the last month.
(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, NHS bosses say they expect to continue to see a ‘fast and steep rise in Covid-19’ and ‘further increase in Covid patients in the weeks to come’.
An NHS spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News : “We are seeing a fast and steep rise in Covid-19 cases in our communities, leading to rises in the numbers of patients admitted to our hospitals. Many of those patients need to be treated in our intensive care units.
“It is vital that people do everything they can to protect themselves, their family and friends, and reduce the spread of this disease by ensuring they are fully vaccinated – and that they continue to follow effective measures like social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing their hands regularly and thoroughly.
“We expect further increases in Covid patients in the weeks to come, which could lead to longer waits for planned and elective procedures, reduced capacity in hospitals and pressures on urgent and emergency care services that could lead to patients waiting longer than we would like.
“Members of the public can help by taking those measures to protect themselves and their loved ones, and using NHS 111 to ensure they are seeking help from the most appropriate services for conditions that are urgent but not an emergency.”
Across England, another 92 children aged between 0 and five were admitted to hospital with Covid in just one day this week, latest government figures show.
The figure for December 28 is almost double the number who were admitted on Christmas Day, just three days earlier, which saw a then record of 50 babies and toddlers in just 24 hours.
There were also 53 youngsters aged between 6 years old and 17 years old admitted to wards in the same 24 hours, meaning a total of 145 children in one day.
(Image: PA)
Children made up 10 per cent of all 1455 people admitted to hospital with covid that day, which included 325 of those aged over 85.
The numbers also show that 621 children were admitted to English hospitals with coronavirus in the week to December 28, which is the biggest weekly rise in children being admitted since the pandemic began.
In comparison, 256 children were admitted in the week to November 28, a month earlier.
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However NHS chiefs have urged caution interpreting the figures, as it is not clear how many cases were detected when children were taken to hospital for non-Covid reasons.
The figures were released as part of the government’s daily coronavirus data, and show a significant rise in admissions in children.
A UK Health Security Agency spokeswoman previously told the Mirror : “With Covid cases rising across the population we have been clear that we can expect more cases among all age groups including children.
“The number of children in hospital who have tested positive for Covid-19 remains proportionately very low but we continue to monitor the data very closely.
“It is crucial that we all play our part to slow the spread of infection.
“We urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated without delay and to wear a mask in crowded spaces, on public transport and in shops.
“Make sure to take a lateral flow test before meeting up with friends and family. Please also wash your hands regularly and ventilate rooms well.
“If you have any Covid-19 symptoms stay at home and get a PCR test as soon as possible.”
(Image: PA)
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and other trusts in England, said that an increase in hospitalisations could be explained by people without Covid symptoms going into hospital for other reasons but testing positive during their stay.
He told Sky News: “As the number of cases in the community rises, we are definitely seeing more people who’ve got incidental Covid.
“In other words, people who haven’t got symptoms have come in for something else and then when they come into hospital, they’re testing positive.
“So what our chief executives are saying is just be careful about over interpreting the data.”
On December 28, there were 98,515 coronavirus cases reported in England.
A UKHSA Spokesperson said: “With COVID cases rising across the population we have been clear that we can expect more cases among all age groups including children. The number of children in hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 remains proportionately very low and it’s important to note that this data alone does not indicate the cause of hospitalisation. We continue to monitor the data very closely.
“It is crucial that we all play our part to slow the spread of infection.
“We urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated without delay and to wear a mask in crowded spaces, on public transport and in shops. Make sure to take a lateral flow test before meeting up with friends and family. Please also wash your hands regularly and ventilate rooms well. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms stay at home and get a PCR test as soon as possible.”
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