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KUALA LUMPUR – There has been an increase in the number of critical Covid-19 cases and deaths among children aged below 5 from last year, said Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The health director-general, in a statement today, said three such fatalities were reported in 2020, while the same number of deaths was recorded in the first five months of this year.
“Apart from that, the number of cases of children requiring treatment in the intensive care unit has also shown a significant increase. In 2020, a total of eight children were treated in the ICU, of whom six were under the age of 5.
“As for 2021 (up till May), a total of 27 cases required treatment in the ICU, and 19 of them were below 5.”
He urged all parties, especially parents and guardians, to play their part to protect groups with lower immunity, including babies and children, against the coronavirus.
He also called on the public to build a safe environment for these groups by complying with health and safety standard operating procedures, and getting vaccinated. – Bernama, June 3, 2021
