Some 530 children under the age of five have been hospitalised during the pandemic, reports TV2. And the numbers have been increasing of late.
During the first week of December, some 26 were admitted, but this rose to 85 during the final week of the year, according to Statens Serum Institut (SSI).
Conversely, while children require smaller beds, they take up more space, as they need to be isolated for precautionary reasons.
So while doctors are not alarmed by the increase in cases, they are concerned about the burden it is having on the healthcare system.
No indications Omicron is more dangerous
“We have seen more than usual,” confirmed Klaus Børch, the chief physician at Hvidovre Hospital’s pediatric ward, to TV2.
“So far we have been able to handle it, but it is a concern if it rises so much that it challenges our space.”
There is absolutely no indication that Omicron might be more dangerous to children than other strains, affirms Klaus Birkelund, the chief physician at Aarhus University Hospital’s pediatric ward.
“At present, we have not seen anything about Omicron that gives cause for concern. Omicron is more contagious, and therefore it affects far more children. It will generate more inpatients, regardless of whether the risk of hospitalisation is lower.”
Round-up of other COVID-19 news
In other corona-related news, it has been confirmed today that Carelink is trialling a new service that enables people to be quick-tested and vaccinated at the same centre. From 14:00 today, the trial will last for a week at Carelink’s centre in Kolding.
The Sundhedsstyrelsen health board has confirmed that Omicron is spreading quickly among the over-65s
SSI has revealed that 23 percent of all corona inpatients in December were hospitalised due to another diagnosis.
Yesterday, 25,995 fresh cases were confirmed (from 223,251 PCR tests), of which 2,027 were re-infections. The number in hospital actually decreased, from 784 to 756, and there were 11 more deaths.
