More than 1,900 children were admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19 in the United States on Saturday, setting a record high for the country since the start of the pandemic, according to media reports. The main impact was seen in the southern states of the United States as the region fights the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus.

According to data released by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the country has experienced exponential growth in pediatric hospitalisations, with Saturday’s tally being 1,902.

Children who are under the age of 12 are not yet eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19, leaving them even more vulnerable to the disease as it spreads its wings in the United States. According to reports from Reuters, children currently make up nearly 2.4% of the total hospitalisations that are related to COVID-19 in the country.

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According to new data released by the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention hit records earlier this week. The data was released in three categories that were divided on the basis of age. These categories included those between the age of 18-29, 30-39 and 40-49.

According to the United States COVID-19 tally maintained by Reuters, the southern state of Florida has been the most stretched with the surge of Delta variant. Florida has also recorded about 20% of the overall coronavirus-related hospitalisations in the country.

Media reports citing the United States Department of Health and Human Services also reveal that more than 90% of the ICU beds in Florida hospitals are already occupied.

Earlier this month, major teachers union of the country also rolled back their stance on mandating COVID-19 vaccines for teachers and administrative staff of schools citing the risk of infecting students, most of whom are not yet eligible to get the vaccine, with the coronavirus.