A child under 10 has died of complications from COVID-19 and a chronic health condition, the first reported death of a young child in Virginia since the pandemic began a year ago, state health officials said Thursday.
The department did not specify what the chronic health condition was or say exactly how old the child was. Officials said the child lived in central Virginia, but declined to release additional information about the child to protect the family's privacy.
“Our heartfelt condolences are extended to the family and friends of this child,” State Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver said in a news release.
“While fewer cases of COVID-19 are reported in children compared with adults, children are not immune to the disease," he added.
Oliver said there have been more than 80 COVID-19 deaths among children under 5 across the country. In children 5 to 17, there have been more than 180 COVID-19 deaths.
“At a time when vaccination efforts give us reason to be hopeful, we cannot let down our guard. Please continue to do the things we know protect others because they reduce virus spread." Oliver said.
A spokeswoman for the department said two people between the ages of 10 and 19 have died of COVID-19 complications in Virginia.
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