CHS Football Player in ICU with Covid

Tuesday, 16-year-old Chattooga High School student and football player Bryson Pollock was admitted to Erlanger Hospital’s ICU with pneumonia in both lungs caused by COVID-19.

His Mom, Kandia Phillips told AllOnGeorgia Bryson’s symptoms started after the Adairsville football game. “Saturday, he woke up with a headache and couldn’t taste or smell. I took him to a local testing site and found out he had Covid,” she said.

After the initial positive test, she took Bryson back to the doctor three times the following week. “They finally did an x-ray Friday August 27. We went all weekend with him struggling to breathe.”

Yesterday, (Tuesday) Kandia called to make another appointment, but found out his doctor had been trying to get ahold of her to tell her Bryson’s x-ray showed pneumonia in both lungs.

Bryson’s Doctor said Floyd Medical Center had reached its max, so he sent him to Erlanger ICU.

“I would like parents to really watch their kids. It all happened so quick. It’s dangerous in teens. We think they are playing or whatever but they aren’t. We just need prayers. Lots of them. I’ve also been asked if people can send him stuff. The answer is absolutely. Send it to our home located at 669 Orchard Hill Road and his dad will bring it up,” Kandia said.

According to data on the Department of Health’s website, the most recent surge in Georgia, caused by the more easily spread Delta variant, is infecting younger people.

School age children, which in previous COVID-19 surges were among the lowest infected groups, are now the second highest.

The highest number of infections over the past seven days statewide were in the 30- to 59-year-old age group, at 2,799. Just under that were 0- to 17-year-olds, at 2,180 infections. The age group that fueled the previous winter surge, 18- to 29-year-olds, only reported 1,225 new cases. The 60-plus age group had 838 cases, the Georgia Department of Public Health.