– Reminds us of the seriousness – VG

The child had a serious underlying diagnosis, Haukeland writes further.

Erik Vigander, Director of Communications at Helse Bergen Haukeland, says that for reasons of privacy and the family’s wishes, they cannot comment further on the matter.

According to the health authorities, this is the first time a child has died of covid-19 in Norway. It is the second corona-related death in the age group 0-39 years.

– It is of course a very sad message. Losing a child is one of the worst things a family, parents and relatives can experience. It reminds us that the disease can be serious even for children who have serious diagnoses, says health director Bjørn Guldvog to VG.

– Does this mean that you have to be more worried about your children?

– This does not change anything in our perception of the disease. We also know from other countries that this can unfortunately affect children on a rare occasion where there are other serious diagnoses.

—

Guldvog believes that the death shows that an important part of the work that is done is to protect patients who are in risk groups:

– The best way to do that is to keep the infection pressure in our country very low. This gives the least possible risk that we transmit infection from the population to those who have the highest risk of serious illness.

Minister of Health Bent Høie (H) has also been informed of the death.

– My thoughts and my sympathy go to the relatives who are now in the middle of grief and longing. Losing a child is one of the worst things we humans can experience, he says according to NTB.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) says it is very painful to hear about the death.

– I send my warmest thoughts to the family and all those who have now lost someone they loved, she says to NTB.

The FHI director: – Reminds us that children can also be affected

Director Camilla Stoltenberg at the National Institute of Public Health tells VG that this is very sad news.

– It is a news that reminds us that children can also be affected by the coronavirus. But first and foremost, it makes me think of the child, the family and those close to the child.

—

Stoltenberg emphasizes that she does not know what underlying diagnosis the child had, but explains that some underlying diseases generally increase the risk of infections.

This may include children with complex disorders such as severe congenital syndromes, or severe neurological disorders with significantly reduced levels of function.

– First and foremost, this is a death that reminds us of the seriousness. And that we must comply with measures to have control at all times, until we get other solutions, says the NIPH director.

She points out that it is very rare for children to become seriously ill and need hospital treatment for covid-19.

– Even children with some underlying diseases can tolerate the coronavirus. For example, it seems that the common flu is more risky for children than the coronavirus. One to two children die every year during the normal flu season, says Stoltenberg.