A 4-year-old girl died of COVID-19, the CHU de Québec – Université Laval announced on Monday. The news quickly caused a shock wave through the health network and the Quebec political world.
Posted at 4:28 p.m.
“The CHU wishes to offer its most sincere condolences to the parents and family of the young girl. For aspects of confidentiality and out of respect for the bereaved family, no interview will be granted and no other comments will be disclosed by the CHU, “said the hospital in a brief press release on Monday, inviting the media and the entire population to “respect the family’s desire to live this difficult period in complete privacy”.
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, was quick to react on his Twitter account. “This news is incredibly sad,” he tweeted. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of this little girl. »
The leaders of the various opposition parties also lamented the tragedy early Monday evening. “How sad,” wrote PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. My sincere thoughts are with the family. »
Dominique Anglade, head of the Liberal Party of Quebec, also reacted: “How sad! She tweeted. My deepest condolences to the family and loved ones. »
On January 10, the CHU de Québec told The Press observed a slight increase in young COVID-19 positive patients, including newborns. The number of hospitalizations had however remained below the bar of five cases since the beginning of January, had specified the adviser in public affairs Michèle Schaffner-Junius.
For the past week, 61 children with COVID-19 have been hospitalized in the province, including three in intensive care. This sad affair is reminiscent of the announcement by the CHU Sainte-Justine, in mid-December, of the death of an infant under 2 months old, in connection with the virus. This baby was then the very first child under the age of 10 to succumb to the virus in Quebec, creating there too a wave of emotions and solidarity in the medical and political world.
Offering its condolences to the family, the CHU Sainte-Justine also did not disclose more details “due to the highly confidential aspects” of the file, recalling however that babies are more likely to develop complications related to COVID-19.
Note: this death is not yet officially reflected in the data of the National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ), which has so far not identified any deaths linked to COVID-19 among 0-9 year olds. However, this is a data update issue, it was confirmed to The Press, the infant having indeed died of the consequences of the coronavirus.
For now, the INSPQ has recorded 2 deaths related to COVID-19 among 10-19 year olds and 11 others among 20-29 year olds, all of which occurred in 2020 and 2021.
Across Canada, more than a dozen children aged 11 and under have succumbed to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. In Ontario, Toronto Public Health also confirmed the death of a child under the age of 4 from COVID-19 in early January.
With the collaboration of Pierre-André Normandin and Louise Leduc, The Press