A 15-year-old in Baltimore County, Maryland, has died from COVID-19 — the state’s first pediatric death, officials said Tuesday.
The teen had symptoms of the inflammatory syndrome associated with the coronavirus — the same illness reported in at least 147 young people in New York City.
Across Maryland, more than 41,000 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The state on Tuesday reported 1,784 new COVID-19 cases — Maryland’s highest one-day rise.
– ‘Too early to predict’ fall school plans in NYC
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he’s asking the state to authorize line-of-duty benefits for the 270 city employees who have lost their lives to the coronavirus.
The families of those employees who died “need to know their futures will be secure,” the mayor said.
De Blasio on Tuesday reported a “mixed bag” for the daily tracking progress indicators.
There were 57 people admitted to New York City hospitals for suspected COVID-19 on Sunday, up from 48 admissions on Saturday. And there were 492 patients in ICUs on Sunday, up from 475 patients on Saturday.
But of those tested citywide on Sunday, just 9% were positive for the coronavirus, down from 11% one day earlier, the mayor said.
De Blasio said Tuesday it’s “too early to predict” school plans for the fall but that safety will be the No. 1 factor — especially now that a coronavirus-related illness is impacting children.
Now known by the name Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that the illness does have a link to COVID-19.
The city has seen 147 cases of the illness using the initial definition — Pediatric Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome. Of those, 69 young people tested positive for the coronavirus and antibodies, and one young person died, the mayor said.
De Blasio said common symptoms include: persistent fever, irritability or sluggishness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, conjunctivitis, enlarged lymph node on one side of the neck, red cracked lips or red tongue, swollen hands and feet.
Parents should call their doctor immediately if their child has symptoms, the mayor said.
New York City officials plan to have an updated number of cases under the MIS-C definition this week, the mayor said.
