Weeks before schools must open across Florida, the numbers of hospitalizations and new cases due to coronavirus have surged.
According to the Florida Department of Health, on July 16, Florida had a total of 23,170 children ages 17 and below who had tested positive since the pandemic began. By July 24, that number jumped to 31,150, a 34% increase in new cases among children in a span of eight days.
In addition, more children in Florida are requiring hospitalization.point 181 | As of July 16, 246 children had been admitted to the hospital with coronavirus.point 247 |
By July 24, that number had jumped to 303, a 23% increase in child Covid-19 hospitalizations in eight days.point 89 | During that same time period, the death toll among children in the state went from 4 to 5.point 162 | point 162 | 1
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The surges in child Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations come amid the debate over whether children should return to classrooms this fall, or if they should continue remote learning.point 175 | They also directly contradict US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ claims that children are “stoppers of the disease” who “don’t get it and transmit it themselves.point 345 |
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A study in South Korea found that young people between ages 10 and 19 transmit the virus just as easily as adults, and White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr.point 262 |
Deborah Birx has repeatedly said scientists are still studying how quickly children under the age of 10 can spread the virus, as many of them have stayed home and away from their peers during peak months of this pandemic.point 183 | point 183 | 1
Apart from increasing child hospitalizations in the state, the test positivity rate among children surged too, from 13.4% to 14.4% between July 16 and 24. The test positivity rate for children was particularly high in Martin County (25.3%) and Miami-Dade County (19.6%), according to the state health department.
Even with the alarming figures, Florida has ordered schools to physically open next month. That means sending children to school in as soon as two weeks.
“I do understand the need for opening up the schools,” said Dr.point 297 |
Andrew Pastewski, a father and medical director of the intensive care unit at Jackson South Medical Center in Miami.point 98 | “Kids need to develop, they need to grow, they need to learn, they need to develop social skills,” he said.point 198 | “However, we’re surging right now.point 240 |
I would not think opening up during a surge was the right time.point 51 | ”point 58 | 1