PHOENIX – Data from the state’s largest hospital network shows that hospital admissions for COVID-19 pediatric patients in January are nearly six times higher than in October.
ABC15 received internal data from Banner Health showing that nearly 800 children have been admitted to its hospitals across Arizona.
Banner Health shared the following graph showing the number of pediatric patients (under 18) admitted.
In an email, Banner Health said:
Note: These statistics from Banner’s Arizona hospitals are not specific to ICU-treated patients. They also include patients who needed inferior care.
- 795 children (over 18 years old) admitted with COVID from October 1, 2020
- In November, 2.5 times more children were admitted with COVID in October 2020
- In December, five times as many children with COVID were admitted in October 2020
- In January 2021, it appears that 6 times more children with COVID will be admitted than in October 2020. (The January issue is not expected to be current).
A recent report released last week by JAMA Pediatrics found that Arizona had the second highest rate of pediatric hospitalizations per 100,000 people during the May-November study period.
“At the end of the study, Hawaii and New Hampshire had the lowest rates (4.3 and 3.4 per 100,000 respectively) and South Dakota and Arizona had the highest rates (33.7 and 32.8 per 100,000 “), the study indicated.
“Symptoms in children are generally milder than in adults and almost all pediatric patients can recover and be discharged, but the trend we are seeing with more pediatric COVID-19 patients is worrisome,” officials said. Banner Health.
Banner Health officials say they have capacity for children within their hospitals and there is no capacity issue.
“Parents should make sure their children engage safely with others to protect them and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community,” Banner Health officials said.