5 COVID-19 Patients On Ventilators At Children's Of Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Once thought by many to be primarily an illness that affects the elderly, COVID-19 has started infecting children at an increasing rate, according to officials with Children's of Alabama.

Children's issued a statement Thursday saying that the hospital is treating 22 COVID-19 patients, five of whom are on vetilators.

"There has been a significant increase in the number of COVID positive patients treated at Children’s of Alabama in recent weeks," the hospital said in a statement. "For comparison, 13 was our highest COVID census in January 2021 at the height of the last surge."

This marked increase is due to the community spread of the delta variant that is impacting younger people, including children, hospital officials said.

"The threat to Alabamians is serious. There are three proven ways to slow the spread of this highly transmissible strain of the virus: Vaccination for everyone 12 and up, masking, especially when indoors, and social distancing."

The statement continued, "Children’s strongly encourages the community to help us protect the most vulnerable in our state by taking all three of these precautions and by following current CDC COVID recommendations, including washing your hands, using hand sanitizer and staying home if you are sick."