WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (HealthDay Information) — Greater than 500,000 U.S. youngsters had been identified with COVID-19 as of early September, with a large uptick seen in current weeks, a brand new report reveals.
There have been 70,630 new youngster circumstances reported between Aug. 20 and Sept. 3, 2020. That brings the whole to 513,415 circumstances — a 16% improve over two weeks, in keeping with state-by-state information compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Youngsters’s Hospital Affiliation.
“These numbers are a chilling reminder of why we have to take this virus severely,” mentioned AAP president Dr. Sara Goza.
As of Sept. 3, youngsters accounted for practically 10% of all reported COVID-19 circumstances in america because the begin of the pandemic, in keeping with the most recent weekly report from the 2 organizations.
The findings spotlight the necessity to redouble efforts to curb the unfold of the new coronavirus, the specialists mentioned. The virus has surged in Southern, Western and Midwestern states through the summer time, they identified.
“Whereas a lot stays unknown about COVID-19, we do know that the unfold amongst youngsters displays what is occurring within the broader communities,” Goza mentioned in an AAP information launch.
“A disproportionate variety of circumstances are reported in Black and Hispanic youngsters, and in locations the place there may be excessive poverty. We should work more durable to handle societal inequities that contribute to those disparities,” she added.
Dr. Sean O’Leary is vice chair of the academy’s committee on infectious illnesses. “This fast rise in constructive circumstances occurred over the summer time, and because the climate cools, we all know individuals will spend extra time indoors,” he mentioned.
“The aim is to get youngsters again into colleges for in-person studying, however in lots of communities, this isn’t doable because the virus spreads unchecked,” O’Leary added.
With flu season approaching, it is essential to “take this severely and implement the general public well being measures we all know might help,” he mentioned. That features sporting masks, avoiding giant crowds, sustaining social distance and getting a flu shot.
“These measures will assist defend everybody, together with youngsters,” O’Leary mentioned.
