12-Year-Old COVID-19 Patient ‘Fighting for Her Life’ on Ventilator: Family Member

Medical staff treat COVID-19 coronavirus patients at a hospital in Wuhan, China on March 19, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

A 12-year-old girl is “fighting for her life” inside an Atlanta hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, a family member told media outlets.

Justin Anthony told CNN that his cousin Emma was placed on a ventilator after she tested positive for the virus that emerged in China. She was diagnosed with pneumonia on March 15.

According to the state’s latest figures on the CCP virus, about 1 percent of cases in Georgia are between the ages of 0 and 17, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Anthony said that as of Saturday, she is in stable condition at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-Scottish Rite Hospital. The hospital confirmed it had a patient there, but it didn’t elaborate on the details of the case, including the age.

“The patient remains in isolation, and we have consistently used appropriate precautions. Additional details will not be released due to patient privacy laws,” hospital spokeswoman Jessica Pope told CNN.

Anthony, who owns several restaurants including 10 Degrees South and Yebo Ski Haus, said the child suffered from a fever for several days before she was taken to the emergency room, according to the Journal-Consitution. She was later put on a ventilator after her condition worsened.

It’s not clear how the child contracted the virus, Anthony said. Emma’s mother is in the hospital with her daughter, and her 13-year-old brother is in self-isolation at home. Relatives, he said, are not able to have physical contact with the boy but are bringing him food.

“Kids can get it and I know one who’s fighting for her life,” Anthony said. “I know first hand how dangerous it is,” he also warned to CNN. “Everyone keeps saying ‘it doesn’t impact younger people.’ But here’s a 12-year-old fighting for her life. People need to practice social distancing. People need to take care of their children. People need to take this seriously.”