NJ health officials look for link between kids’ illness and COVID-19 – Courier Post

TRENTON – Eighteen children in New Jersey, including at least one from South Jersey, have exhibited an inflammatory response that’s been associated with the coronavirus, the state’s health commissioner said Wednesday.

Eleven children were known to be hospitalized as a result of the condition, although no deaths have been reported, Commissioner Judith Persichilli said at a COVID-19 press conference Wednesday.

Cases were reported in nine counties, including Gloucester County in South Jersey.

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Persichilli said state officials had learned Tuesday of 11 cases of children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, a condition described as being similar to Kawasaki disease.

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“This morning we received seven more reports,” said Persichilli, who prefaced her brief remarks with the phrase “of concern.”

The affected children were between the ages of three and 18.

All of the cases are under investigation, according to the health department.

“We’re still very early in this process,” Dr. Edward Lifshitz, the agency’s Communicable Disease Service Medical Director, said at the press conference.

“The Health Department put out what’s known as a call for cases to the community last week and has begun to hear back about potential cases in New Jersey,” he said.

“It’s not yet clear whether these are all related to COVID,” Lifshitz added.

The cases reported Tuesday all involved children who’d been hospitalized, Persichilli said. Data was not available for the seven cases reported Wednesday, she said.

A Gloucester County representative could not be reached for additional details about the case or cases in that county.

Ccases were also reported in the six counties with the most COVID-19 cases — Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Passaic, Union and Middlesex, 

Children were affected, too, in Monmouth and Warren counties, Persichilli said.

“Of the ones that were reported that we were able to investigate, four tested positive for COVID-19,” said Persichilli.

“We will have more to report as we learn more,” said Persichilli, who noted case investigations were still underway.

Also Wednesday, health officials reported at least 27 new deaths due to COVID-19.

Camden County reported 11 deaths, including five victims in their 90s.

Atlantic County confirmed the deaths of 10 more residents of long-term care facilities. The victims, who ranged in age from 71 to 95, all had underlying health issues.

Gloucester County reported six deaths, with five victims between the ages of 73 and 95.

The latest figures pushed the overall death toll to 241 in Camden County and to 96 in Gloucester and Atlantic counties.

This story will be updated.

Jim Walsh is a free-range reporter who’s been roaming around South Jersey for decades. His interests include crime, the courts, economic development and being first with breaking news. Reach him at jwalsh@gannettnj.com.

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