12-year-old infected with coronavirus dies in Belgium
12-year-old Belgian girl becomes the youngest in Europe to die from coronavirus
- A 12-year-old Belgian girl has died from coronavirus, officials said today
- It was the first death of a child in the COVID-19 crisis taking its toll on Belgium
- The country has recorded 705 deaths from the disease and 12,000 cases
- Before the unnamed Belgian girl, the youngest victim was Vitor Godhino, 14, from Porto in Portugal
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A 12-year-old girl Belgian girl has become the youngest person in Europe to die from the coronavirus.
The young age of the fatality ‘is a very rare occurrence,’ said government spokesman, Dr Emmanuel Andre, adding that her death ‘shook us’.
It was the first death of a child in the coronavirus crisis gripping Belgium, which has now recorded a total 705 deaths from the disease it causes, according to the latest official toll.
Children have largely been spared death from the respiratory illness, with most of its fatal victims falling into the elderly category.
A patient suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is treated at the intensive care unit at Erasme Hospital in Brussels, Belgium, March 30, 2020
Before the Belgian girl’s death, the youngest European to die from the deadly illness was Vitor Godhino, a 14-year-old boy from Porto in Portugal.
He died on the early hours of Sunday after falling ill from the virus.
Before Vito, 16-year-old French schoolgirl Julie Alliot was reported as the youngest Covid-19 death in Europe.
Young Vitor Godinho seen here smiling into the camera, seemingly a fit and healthy young man
She died at a hospital in Paris on 25 March.
Ms Alliot had no underlying health conditions and was pronounced dead a week after developing ‘a slight cough’.
Her sister Manon said Julie was a ‘bright and much loved’ person, who ‘loved to dance, sing and make people laugh.’
Research in the journal Pediatrics found that of 2,100 children infected with COVID-19, only one died, a 14-year-old. The research found that less than six per cent of children were seriously affected by the disease.
Tributes have been paid to Julie Alliot, 16, (pictured) who succumbed to respiratory problems in a Paris hospital after first developing a ‘slight cough’
A patient suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is treated at the intensive care unit at Erasme Hospital in Brussels, Belgium yesterday
Belgium’s death toll from the novel coronavirus passed the 500 mark Monday, with almost 12,000 cases detected since the start of the epidemic.
Health authorities in the country of 11.4 million said 513 COVID-19 deaths had been recorded and 11,899 cases confirmed by laboratory tests.
But officials said the rise in admissions to hospital and to intensive care units had slowed slightly over the previous 24 hours.
‘We’re not at the peak, but at what we call the inflection point – that means the force of the epidemic is beginning to diminish thanks to the efforts we have all made over the last two weeks,’ said Emmanuel Andre, spokesman for government’s epidemic team.
A nurse wears a full-face snorkelling mask, as part of a donation of 50 snorkelling masks by sports chain Decathlon, transformed as respirators to help treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients at the Erasme (Erasmus) Hospital in Brussels, Belgium yesterday
Workers install a temporary Doctors Without Borders (MSF) 50 places shelter for homeless people suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) yesterday in Brussels
‘It is extremely important to keep up these efforts – just because the curve is softening slightly today, it doesn’t mean it won’t get worse if we let up our efforts.’
On Friday, Belgium extended lockdown measures by two weeks to April 18 to slow the spread of the virus.
Schools, restaurants and most shops are closed, entry to supermarkets is restricted to allow room for social distancing and people have been told to work from home.
Outdoor sports activities and walks outside are still allowed, but only in small groups, with a friend or with family members living under the same roof.
Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said the lockdown could be extended by another two weeks to May 3 if the spread of the virus demanded it.
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