Don Béni Kabangu Nsapu, 19, died on August 16 of complications from COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Social Services confirmed to Radio-Canada.
According to our information, the victim lived in the Montreal region and was from Congo (DRC). The young man received last year the prize for the male high school student-athlete who has demonstrated academic and athletic perseverance.
His state of health deteriorated after the prescribed quarantine, explained his father Alain Lukinda Nsapu:days. […] It was at the end of the third week that things got worse. The child was taken to the hospital, 9days [après] he died. “,” text “:” He had a little fever, we took him to the hospital, the hospital told us it was COVID, we were quarantined, and we did the 14 days. […] It was at the end of the third week that things got worse. We took the child to the hospital, 9 days [après] he is deceased. “}}” lang = “fr”>He had a little fever, we took him to the hospital, the hospital told us it was COVID, we were quarantined, and we did the 14 days. […] It was at the end of the third week that things got worse. We took the child to the hospital, 9 days [après] he is dead.
His disappearance caused amazement and incomprehension within his community. Stéphane Kalonga, his former soccer coach at Pointe-Aux-Trembles high school from 2017 to 2019, described him as an exemplary boy, very polite and very courteous
.
Football, indoors, is very demanding in terms of energy, confirms the coach. He was ready, fit, he was a very fit player. […] He had lots of dreams and it all ended like that.
Lionel Kiangala grew up with Don Béni Kabangu Nsapu; they saw each other “as brothers,” he says.
Photo : Radio-Canada / via Facetime
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Lionel Kiangala, one of his close friends, still struggles to believe it. The young man wanted to tell by videoconference how this tragedy has deeply shaken him. I was aware that he was hit by the corona, he testifies. But when I was told he was on artificial respiration, I realized it was really serious. I didn’t think it was going to get him like this. I started to get scared and stressed.
By offering his condolences to the bereaved family, François Legault reiterated the importance of following public health recommendations during a press conference on Friday afternoon. We are in the process of carrying out the autopsy, but it is disturbing, worrying, and it confirms – despite [ce que soutiennent] certain conspiratorial groups […] – that young people are not immune. So wear the mask, it’s serious.
Same cry from the heart of Olivia Sandra Ganyou Fanmoé, an acquaintance of the young victim, who reminds us that respect for sanitary measures remains vital for all. You really have to be vigilant, she insists. No matter what you think of the pandemic, you have to admit that the virus still exists and protect yourself well.
According to Olivia Sandra Ganyou Fanmoé, an acquaintance of Béni Kabangu Nsapu, this tragedy shows that we must continue to remain vigilant in the face of the virus.
Photo: Radio-Canada
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Don Béni Kabangu Nsapu is the first victim of COVID-19 under 20 in Quebec – the second in Canada.
The infection rate among young people under 30 has nearly doubled in the province since May 1, from 13.6% to 22.9%, while in Canada it has climbed 16.9% at 23.8%.
A global phenomenon
What this death shows us is that the disease can strike anyone at any age.
, says Cécile Tremblay, medical microbiologist at CHUM.
Cases like this are extremely rare, she says, but the virus is indeed lurking in young people, more likely to find themselves at parties and gatherings.
–or between waves– of the pandemic, everywhere on the planet, the same scenario is happening: it is really younger people who are infected “,” text “:” What we see is that in the second wave – or between waves – of the pandemic, everywhere on the planet, the same scenario is happening: it is really younger people who are infected “}}” lang = “fr”>What we see is that in the second wave – or the inter-wave – of the pandemic, everywhere on the planet, the same scenario is happening: it is really more people. young people who are infected
, notes Dr. Tremblay.
In interview at All morning, Dr. Caroline Quach, microbiologist-infectious disease specialist, pediatrician, epidemiologist and doctor in charge of the infection prevention and control unit at CHU Sainte-Justine, is reassuring while advising caution.
The risk of death among the youngest is dramatically lower than that of the oldest, but it is not zero.
There are not many cases of children admitted to Sainte-Justine hospital because of COVID-19, says Dr. Quach. Since the start of the pandemic, we have had 62, and for more than a week, we have not been hospitalized
, she explains.
Dr. Quach expects more transmission of the virus with the reopening of schools and the resumption of contacts and activities
.
However, she recalls that children need to be educated. They need to see their friends. And the risk of disease for them is very low
.
The message will go through TikTok
A few days before returning to class, Ottawa is looking to target young people more in its communication strategy around COVID-19. The Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada announced on Friday morning an awareness campaign aimed at young people and which has already been tested with target groups.
This will be available from next week on social networks such as TikTok and YouTube and will call on young influencers. For Patty Hajdu, the Federal Minister of Health, it is above all a question of raising the awareness of a segment of the population within which contaminations are increasing and which, notwithstanding the low death rate, remains an important vector of community transmission.
COVID-19","text":"C'est difficile pour les jeunes Canadiens de rester chez eux [...] de renoncer à sortir avec des amis. [...] Il est aussi normal qu'ils résistent aux messages qui leur disent qu'ils sont aussi à risque de contracter la COVID-19"}}" lang="fr">It’s hard for young Canadians to stay at home […] to give up going out with friends. […] It is also normal that they resist messages that tell them they are also at risk of contracting COVID-19.
, stressed the Minister, recalling that experts have said a lot that this disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and patients with comorbidités.
Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. Considering new ideas and improving the way we communicate is important. “,” Text “:” We may be on a downward slope, but it’s a marathon, said Dr.Theresa Tam, Chief Administrator of Public Health in Canada. Considering new ideas and improving the way we communicate is important. “}}” Lang = “fr”>We may be on a downward slope, but it’s a marathon, said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer. Considering new ideas and improving the way we communicate is important.
Both sent their condolences to the family of Don Béni Kabangu Nsapu, who organized an online fundraiser for the funeral.
With information from Sébastien Desrosiers
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