COVID-19 in Children: US Reports 26,000 Coronavirus Cases Weekly

In the United States, nearly 26,000 COVID-19 cases were reported in children in the week ending January 12, according to the latest report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association. This is a decrease from the previous week, but likely an undercount since it increased during the holidays and in 2023, according to the report.

Reported cases are likely a substantial undercount of COVID-19 cases among children. In addition, reductions or delays in data reporting increase during holiday periods, according to the report.

COVID in Babies and Kids

There is a need to collect more age-specific data to assess the severity of illness related to new variants as well as potential longer-term effects, said the report.

¡§It is important to recognize there are immediate effects of the pandemic on children's health, but importantly we need to identify and address the long-lasting impacts on the physical, mental, and social well-being of this generation of children and youth,¡¨ said the AAP.

Source-IANS