Baby boy contracts COVID-19, 16 children in WV infected

An eight-month-old baby boy from San Enrique, Negros Occidental is among the 19 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Region 6 as of Tuesday, according to the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6).

Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, medical coordinator for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases of DOH-CHD 6, said the baby (WV Patient No. 594) had a history of travel in Manila.

According to Te, the mother of the baby initially tested positive for COVID-19 (WV Patient No. 232).

“The baby is a close contact of a confirmed case who is his mother. The mother was found positive for COVID-19. They departed from Manila last June 18. His mother was swabbed on June 18 and her results came out on June 24. The baby was swabbed on July 4,” she explained in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.

Te said the baby is asymptomatic and recovering. The infant and his mother are under strict home quarantine.

In Western Visayas, 16 children (13 years old and below) were infected with COVID-19 as of July 14, 2020. Majority of the infected children are locally stranded individuals.

The youngest to be infected in the region is a two-month-old baby boy from Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 344).

Based on the initial data of the health department, the other COVID-19-positive children (excluding Patient Nos. 344 and 594) in the region are:

*three-year-old female from Pandan, Antique (WV Patient No.75)

*ten-year-old male LSI from Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 170)

*five-year-old male LSI from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (WV Patient No. 189)

*three-year-old male from Alimodian, Iloilo (WV Patient No.280)

*13-year-old female from Alimodian, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 288)

*12-year-old female LSI from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No.432)

*six-year-old female LSI from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 435)

*one-year-old-female LSI from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No.436)

*13-year-old male from Badiangan, Iloilo (WV Patient No.461)

*four-year-old male LSI from Talisay City, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 466)

*13-year-old female LSI from San Enrique, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 489)

*nine-year-old male LSI from Pavia, Iloilo (WV Patient No.515)

*seven-year-old male LSI Cabatuan, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 548)

*three-year-old male from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (WV Patient No. 592)

Te said all COVID-19 positive children are stable.

“Majority of them are asymptomatic and stable,” she said.

In its Case Bulletin No. 110, DOH-CHD 6 reported 19 new additional cases in Western Visayas.

The 19 new cases include 13 LSIs, five “indigenous cases,” and a repatriated Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

COVID-19 cases in the region jumped to 611 with 376 active cases, 224 recoveries, and 11 deaths, as of Tuesday. (ERS)