Hanoi sounds alarm over rise of Covid-19 cases among children

Cases of Covid-19 are on the rise across the country. On International Children's Day on 1 June, government and hospitals step up support for children.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - The fourth wave of Covid-19 is hitting Vietnam and in particular children, who make up about 6% of new cases. According to data from John Hopkins University, 7,870 new cases were recorded on June 2 (an increase of 245 new cases over the previous day) and 49 deaths.

Minister of Labor, Disabled People and Social Affairs, Đào Ngọc Dung, stated that on May 28 there were 198 children affected by Covid-19, 6% of the total cases recorded that day. In addition to these, 3,915 are classified as "F1," meaning those people who live or have come into contact with people affected by Covid-19, while "F0" indicates the people currently infected.

Since April 27, the Ministry of Labor, Disabled People and Social Affairs and the Vietnam Children's Fund have been providing free meals to children under 16 suffering from Covid-19 or in isolation. In the province of Bắc Giang, in northern Vietnam, there are currently 1,000 children in isolation and who are being treated for the disease.

Local communities have mobilized all available resources to care for the “F0” children, while the “F1” children are receiving free meals and treatment, whether they are in isolation in their communities or in health facilities.

Cases of Covid-19 are on the rise throughout the country and the pandemic is affecting the psychological health of children and their daily activities.

International Children's Day was celebrated on 1 June, but many were unable to celebrate as usual due to the pandemic. However, on May 30, doctors and nurses from Đà Nẵng Lung hospital and Hòa Vang medical center still celebrated by giving gifts to children with Covid-19 treated in their wards.

“The hospital is treating six children with Covid-19. One is a six-month-old baby, but they are all in a stable condition, "said Dr. Lê Thành Phúc, director of the Đà Nẵng Lung hospital. "On International Children's Day on June 1, we gave the children extra gifts to encourage them," he added.

On the same day, the Hòa Vang medical center, in the city of Đà Nẵng, also organized a party for the children treated in their facility. Dr Trần Thị Thu, head of the pediatric department in Hoa Vang told AsiaNews that her team "is treating 12 children, aged between 10 months and 14 years of age".

And she then continued: “This year these children are more disadvantaged than others because when they had to celebrate Children's Day in a place like this. In the past, doctors and nurses have cared for the health of children and have been friends and carers of these children. We always try to help these children so that they can overcome the fear of the pandemic. Here, during the treatment, they not only improve their health conditions, but also overcome their fear while staying here,” concluded Dr Thu.

• Vietnam
• Covid-19
• pandemic
• coronavirus
• children