FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Public Health said Sunday that a 17-year-old boy has died of the coronavirus, marking this the youngest fatality and first pediatric death in the state.
Nancy Nydam with the department confirmed the information to Channel 2 Action News Sunday.
The teen was from Fulton County and had an underlying condition, according to officials. His identity has not been released.
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Over 1,800 people have died of COVID-19 in Georgia since the outbreak began with the median age of deaths at 73.6 years old, according to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of COVID-19 in children have typically been less severe, though there has been growing concern and a new warning about a rare condition recently seen in dozens of children nationwide.
A spokesperson for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta confirmed that a team of infectious disease and cardiology experts are evaluating several cases in metro Atlanta of children who exhibited Kawasaki-like symptoms and inflammation.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta physician specialists stressed that it appears to be a rare finding with a low rate in our community.
New York health officials have already issued a warning about a rare inflammatory syndrome that has infected at least 64 children in that state.
A spokesperson for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta said they have experts for treating the symptoms regardless of a potential link to COVID-19.
Families should contact their doctor or visit an emergency room if thier child develops signs of illness such as high fever, rash, red eyes, abdominal pain and swelling of the face, hands or feet.
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