Nearly 100K children test positive for COVID-19 as schools reopen

Research shows that positive cases of COVID-19 among children are growing as schools across the country reopen.

Aug 11, 2020

A Plea For Help, In Crayon: Children Ask Congress For COVID Relief — WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 05: ParentsTogether installs a display of art from children across the country, describing their suffering, anxiety, and hopes during the coronavirus pandemic on Capitol Hill on August 05, 2020 in Washington, DC. The group is calling on Congress to provide urgent assistance for families before the summer recess. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for ParentsTogether)

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, more children are testing positive for the deadly disease.

According to NBC News, almost 100,000 minors contracted COVID-19 in the last two weeks of July, according to newly reported research. Data collected and analyzed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association highlight a 40 percent increase in coronavirus cases in children between July 16 and July 30.

coronavirus thegrio.com — BERLIN, GERMANY – AUGUST 10: Children wearing protective face masks arrive for the first day of classes of the new school year at the GuthsMuths elementary school during the coronavirus pandemic on August 10, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Classes at schools across Germany are beginning this month with face mask requirements varying by state. Coronavirus infection rates are climbing again in Germany, from an average of 400 new cases per day about two weeks ago to over 1,100 yesterday, according to the Robert Koch Institute. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

The survey was conducted in 49 states such as New York City, Puerto Rico, and Guam according to NBC News. Variations in the definition of a child ranged across different locations. Some states included only those 14-years old and younger while some determined 24-years-old was the cut-off age. New York did not provide an age breakdown of the children included.

Results of the survey found that children account for between 3 and 11 percent of total state tests, and between 3.6 and 17.8 percent of children tested positive for the virus. The research continues to report, every state did not note hospitalizations of children, but for those that did, children represent 0.6 percent to 3.7 percent.

In total, the research shows that 338,982 children have been caught the coronavirus in the United States with over half of them reporting over 5,000 confirmed cases among child populations. This study comes just as schools open for the 2020-20201 education year.

“Early reports suggest children are less likely to get COVID-19 than adults, and when they do get COVID-19, they generally have a less serious illness.As of July 21, 2020, 6.6% of reported COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1% of COVID-19-related deaths are among children and adolescents less than 18 years of age in the United States,” reports the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The decision to open schools based on data such as both aforementioned studies has been controversial. theGrio previously reported mandatory quarantine after a student and staffer at two different Indiana schools tested positive for COVID-19.

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