First Young Child Dies Of COVID-19 In Wisconsin

WISCONSIN — A child younger than 9 has died of complications due to COVID-19, Wisconsin Department of Health Services data showed Monday.

This is the first coronavirus death among children younger than 10. It's not clear what date the child died, but state health services last updated its deaths by age groups on Monday.

Six children between the ages of 10-19 died of the virus.

State health services data shows that people ages 80-90 make up 29.2 percent of deaths — the largest chunk out of all age groups.

There were 1,333 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday after a surge of cases in mid-December. The seven-day average for new cases is 3,294 cases per day.

The omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease now outpaces the delta variant by making up over 90 percent of new cases in the Midwest.

State health services approved Pfizer booster doses for 16- and 17-year-olds on Friday. Teens are recommended to take the booster dose six months after their second shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Pfizer booster doses for 16- and 17-year-olds on Dec. 9.

"The COVID-19 booster doses are important tools as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants," health services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said. Health officials added that getting vaccinated will help protect children under 5 who can't get the shot yet.

A total of 9,683 Wisconsinites of all ages have died from COVID-19 illness as of Sunday.

See More:

• Omicron Cases Explode In Wisconsin: See Latest CDC Data
• Omicron In WI: 'Immediate Action' Needed To Prevent Deaths