COVID-19 hitting more children in the US in recent weeks
- Nearly 204,000 children have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week in the US
- A total of 4.8 million children have been infected with the virus since the start of the pandemic
- Children in Florida are seeing higher rates of COVID-19 infection in the week gone by
There has been a sharp increase in the number of children
who are testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, according to the
American Academy of Pediatrics.
Nearly 204,000 children have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, according
to reports by officials in states across the United States. A total of 4.8
million children have been infected with the virus since the start of the pandemic,
according to reports till August 26.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, case rates
in kids “have increased exponentially, with over a five-fold increase the
past month” after the nation saw fewer child cases of COVID-19 earlier in
the year.
The rise in COVID-19 cases among children comes as the
school year has started around the country while the highly contagious Delta
variant continues to spread.
Data released by the Tennessee health officials shows that
40% of new COVID-19 cases in the state that were reported in the state were
seen among children between the ages 0 and 18, according to a report by News
Channel 5. Throughout the entire pandemic, children have made up only 17.4% of
the state’s cases.
Children in Florida are seeing higher rates of COVID-19
infection in the week gone by, according to state data. The data showed that
COVID was hitting kids harder than any other demographic in the state.
More children are also being hospitalized with the virus in
Florida. According to a report by the Associated Press, there were 230 children
in the hospital with COVID-19, compared to 20 in June.
While COVID-19 cases among children increase, Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis and some of the state’s school districts are in a fight
over mask mandates for students.
DeSantis came out with an executive order banning masking
requirements in schools, though it was overturned by a court, saying that his
ban was unconstitutional. The Florida governor has vowed to appeal the ruling.
Pediatricians in Florida have pushed for masks in schools,
Florida Politics reported.
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