Concerned that the government not releasing stats on child deaths

[Thewheelsarefallingoff]

Prompted by discussions on schools reopening; I tried to find more data on children seriously ill with CV and deaths of children.

On 27th April, the BBC reported the potentially fatal syndrome in children, at the time of the report, 20 children were in ITU with this in the UK: www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/health-52439005

World meters just doesn't seem to have the stats for the UK by age and demographics:
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/

When I click on the link for age and demographics it takes me to a page with figures for New York City:
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/

I am concerned that we won't have the information in order for us to make reasoned decisions on whether to send our children back to school.

Does anyone have some reliable data on this?

I agree with you OP, and Humphries.

I'm not suggesting it's all a big cover up conspiracy, but obviously the government will want to - as much as they can in a non dictatorship country - want to try to present their figures in the best light. Their slow responses, "herd immunity" "take it on the chin", chopping and changing, and lack of preparedness at every turn has been utter negligence compared to many other countries. I don't fully trust them either.

There should be more accessible and clear information. The public are being treated like Children imo.

I think it's a disgrace that some on this thread questioned your mental health!!

@owlstwooting - that was me. The OP's stated concern is that deaths of children are being hidden in the UK, she isn't comforted by actual figures because she believes they are being manipulated. If you are also genuinely concerned about that, then I think you also should talk to a GP. When a person starts creating delusional conspiracy theories, it's a clear sign that there is a problem of some sort.
@Humphriescushion is saying something rather different, she wants additional information to assess risks for herself; some of that perceived need might be a bit over the top, but it is not actually delusional.

Glad to know i am not delusional @ mrex, stll i dont regard wanting to know how many people who went to hosptial with coronvirus have been discharged as being over the top or the other information that other countries including northern ireland and scotland appear to be publishing fairly easily.

@MRex As far as I can see, the OP is mainly concerned that the information only goes up until the 17th April. She is concerned, not claiming that things are being maliciously 'hidden'.
Personally I think it's you who has the problem. Who are you to dictate that people 'should' see a GP just because they have a different option or level of risk tolerance than yourself?? that's ridiculous and extremely patronising.

For what it's worth, I have a household member only in their 60s , but with recent lung cancer for which half a lung was removed as a curative measure, with angina, copd amongst other illnesses. Also I'm a Parent. So obviously looking for as full and transparent statistics and information as possible. I don't think it's a 'conspiracy ' as your patronising reply implies, I just think the data is not enough yet.

And I am also not sure where you got the idea that i need this information to "access risks for herself" from!

@owlstwooting - the OP asked "Are there any journalists that can confirm whether this is an embargo on reporting deaths and serious complications in children?". She has exactly presented herself as being concerned that information about child deaths and serious illness are being withheld from the public. She reiterated it in multiple posts, go back and check. Wanting information and having varying risk tolerance is not the same as letting anxiety get to the point of inventing conspiracy theories. If you want specific information, see the links posted earlier in the thread, or there's a thread specifically for statistics.

And someone else posted that there is often embargo on reporting many things. It's not a necessarily a 'conspiracy ' theory.

Also does not account for your suggesting the OP and myself need to see a GP!! Each to their own but there is no need for that. Especially if you are not a mental health professional!!

MRex, I have stated previously that I have experience in working at a local newspaper and know from there at a very mundane level that embargoes on reporting certain stories before a given date is commonplace. It does not mean that my mental health is in a perilous state. I think that far from being concerned, you threw the anxiety thing in to discredit the fact that I was asking questions.

Ok, go ahead and believe "they" are hiding child deaths in a massive global conspiracy. I don't believe that route will bring you happiness, but it's your own lookout.

Anyone who looks at the ONS data for 2020 can see that the number deaths in children has been consistent since the beginning of the year. For example, in the 4-9 age group there were four deaths in the week ending 3 Jan and there were five deaths in the week ending 17 April. The highest was eight deaths in the week ending 10 Jan. There is no spike in child deaths.

it gives the government a breathing space of up 2 weeks to get their story straight

Does no one on this thread think that the
government will be trying to manipulate the data to present the best case scenario?

In support of @MRex the above are examples of very conspiriatol (sp?)?language the OP used, I picked up on it as did others and I don’t think it’s strange to question the perspective or motives of someone posting in that tone.

I’m not given to thinking Chinese propagandists and Russian bots are infiltrating social media on a constant basis but there are some posts that make me wonder. That would have sounded like a conspiracy until fairly recently.

*@Thewheelsarefallingoff

I was a journalist for many years and, yes, you can place an embargo on certain announcements (the government and many other oganisations issues press releases which give news outlets the information in advance, but those outlets cannot publish this information until a stated date/time). However, I couldn't be more certain that there is no "embargo" on child deaths.

Think about it logically:

One: the news would be emerging from hospitals regardless

Two: journalists would never abide by such an embargo

Three: the daily official statistics on hospital deaths mention the age of the youngest victim and very occasionally this has been a child

Four: in what way could the government "get its story straight" on child deaths? There is no government on the planet (outside North Korea, possibly) that could suddenly announce a large number of child deaths which they had previously omitted to tell the public about and expect to get away with this.

These are very worrying times, but the one silver lining for parents is that children all over the world are statistically hugely less likely than adults to become seriously ill from this hideous disease, let alone die.

Im not sure about a conspiracy but
I think they are not presenting the total deaths by age at their presentations!? Are they (im not watching)
Are they showing the total by age group hospitalised and icu?

They were telling us that deaths only included hospital but not making clear they knew thousands were dying in care homes and many at home.
And they present the deaths as if they happened in last 24h which they know is not true.

They didnt tell us about the kawasaki disease..

Also note that a research did show a different coronavirus caused Kawasaki symptoms (Nl63) i think so it's not unheard of.

I dont think they would be upfront about children being admitted to icu or gettig pretty ill.

My dc have had something. And both still have coughs and 8yo has been complaining abiut phlegm for first time ever and early on had a sore throat again first time complained of it.
And it seems that the Kawasaki takes a while to reach that point that it's serious.
If we have say 5% immunity then we need 12x as much at least to get to even 60% so if 100 kids say in icu thats 12x as many. And 12x as many dead.
Let alone the numbers for 40-60yo which i think would be 19k dead.

Imo a lot of this needs to be independent the gov have up and being still in charge can - continue to and can try to hide it.

The ONS is independent.