OHIO, USA — University Hospitals' Rainbow Babies and Children’s Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Amy Edwards can’t say this any more plainly, "this COVID is so contagious, you do not understand how contagious this COVID is, it is not a matter of if you get COVID, but a matter of when you get COVID."
The beds at Rainbow Babies and Children's are packed with kids fighting RSV, a respiratory lung infection. She fears the impending delta variant of the coronavrius will create a new wave of cases once kids go back to school.
"With every pediatric hospital filled with RSV cases we don't have room for COVID and so that's why it's concerning," Dr. Edwards said.
As the delta variant sweeps through the country--mainly impacting the unvaccinated--she worries for those now most vulnerable.
"Every single state that is dealing with a delta variant wave, the first thing that you saw was a massive increase in the adult cases and adult hospitalizations the second thing you saw was a massive increase in pediatric cases and then you saw that increase in pediatric hospitalizations," Dr. Edwards said.
Kids under 12 can't be vaccinated yet and while we know delta spreads more easily, there's much we don't know.
"This is not your grandparent's covid, this is covid on steroids, we're seeing more hospitalizations, we're seeing people come in sicker," the doctor said.
Dr. Edwards has been on the front lines of the pandemic since the beginning, taking care of sick kids. Now, more than ever, she implores people to get vaccinated and wear masks.
"It is our moral obligation to protect our children, every person in this state should wear a mask outside their homes."