Seattle Children’s Hospital has confirmed its first patient death from COVID-19.
The hospital made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday.
“We are saddened to confirm that the first patient death from COVID-19 at Seattle Children’s occurred last week, despite the extraordinary efforts of the care team. This hits all of us close to home, and the patient and family are in the thoughts and hearts of the Seattle Children’s community,” John McGuire, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine said.
They did not provide the age of the child but Dr. Dave Carlson, chief physician officer at MultiCare Health System said at a press conference on Monday that the hospital was treating five children with COVID-19, including one in its neonatal unit.
According to the Seattle Times, infections in children remain fairly low in Washington compared to elsewhere. But, state hospital leaders said the number of younger COVID-19 patients is increasing.
Roughly 70 percent of that population in Washington is fully vaccinated, according to data from the CDC. 79 percent of individuals aged 12 years and older haven gotten at least one dose of COVID vaccine.
