2 infants in Hong Kong confirmed severely infected with Covid just days apart

A one-year-old boy remains in a critical condition in a Hong Kong hospital after contracting Covid-19, the second infant confirmed as severely infected with the contagious disease within a week, according to health authorities.

The Centre for Health Protection at the Department of Health said on Friday that both boys had good past health but had not been inoculated against Covid-19.

The centre urged unvaccinated high-risk groups to get vaccinated, warning that the overall Covid-19 activity could increase in the coming one or two months.

The one-year-old boy developed a fever, cough and runny nose on June 2 and the next day showed symptoms of stridor, a blockage of the upper airway.

He was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital on June 4 and was later transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at Prince of Wales Hospital due to severe croup symptoms.

The centre said the boy’s diagnosis was Covid-19 complicated with croup.

“He is currently in critical condition,” it said.