Concerns grow over Delta variant affecting children in the US

The country is encouraging schools to reopen fully for a close-to-normal school year

Nurse Alisa Ellis-Balogun tests 7-year-old Thomas Byrd for coronavirus at Seneca High School a day before returning to school in Louisville, Kentucky, US, on August 10, 2021. Reuters

Increasing numbers of children in the US are getting infected with Covid-19 as the Delta variant surges across the country, ringing alarm bells just as schools are set to reopen for a new year.

The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) reported on August 5 that nearly 94,000 coronavirus cases among children have been added in one week—what the organisation calls "a continuing substantial increase".

The group says severe illness continues to be "uncommon" but frontline workers in states are seeing children in Covid-19 wards more recently than at any other time in the pandemic—largely because of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

"My concerns are deep and I'm very concerned, and we all know why," Mr Biden said in response to a reporter's question about paediatric coronavirus cases on Tuesday.

For example, Florida has reported nearly 20,000 child cases the last month, the AAP reported.

"We definitely have seen an increase in cases here, in our emergency department and also within the rest of the hospital, in the last two or three weeks," Dr Marcos Mestre, medical director of Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, told AFP.

And in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards last week said: “We have more children sick with Covid-19 than at any other time during the pandemic."

"We heard from hospital leaders," Mr Edwards continued, "the Delta variant is affecting children at a greater rate there than during the surges that we saw previously.”

Those under the age of 12 are currently not eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine in the US, but doctors suggest that getting more adolescents and adults vaccinated will decrease the risk for children.

Just 50 per cent of the total US population is fully vaccinated, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Meanwhile, Pfizer hopes data on vaccines for ages five to 11 will arrive by the end of September.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are also studying how their vaccines work in younger populations.

"Look, I understand that there are millions of people who decided — adults — who decided not to get vaccinated. And I understand that to badger those folks is not likely to get them to move and get vaccinated," Mr Biden continued.

Students wearing face masks arrive with their parents on the first day of classes for the 2021-22 school year at Baldwin Park Elementary School in Florida. Getty Images

Nurse Alisa Ellis-Balogun tests 7-year-old Thomas Byrd for coronavirus at Seneca High School a day before returning to school in Louisville, Kentucky, US, on August 10, 2021. Reuters

Crossing guard Kelly Linder helps a masked mother and son cross a road as they make their way to Loretto Elementary School on August 10, 2021, in Jacksonville, Florida, for the first day of the new school year. AP

A school worker wipes down tables after students finished eating breakfast, on August 10, 2021, during the first day of school at Washington Elementary School in West Palm Beach, Florida, AP

Fifth-grade students wearing masks to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, listen during class, on August 10, 2021, during the first day of school at Washington Elementary School in Riviera Beach, Florida. AP

A parent adjusts her son's visor on the first day of school at Enrique Camarena Elementary School in Chula Vista, California, on July 21, 2021. AP

Nurse Celeste Moore, tests 11.5 years old Samira Javed for coronavirus at Seneca High School a day before returning to school in Louisville, Kentucky, US, on August 10, 2021. Reuters

A student waits in the cafeteria after eating breakfast, on August, 10, 2021, during the first day of school at Washington Elementary School in Riviera Beach, Florida. AP

Charlie Gonzalez holds up a sign during the first day of school at the new Hannah Marie Brown Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada, US, on August 9, 2021. AP

A sign hanging in the hallway reads "Keep Henry Healthy, wash or sanitize your hands, repeat the personal space of others and masks are optional" at Tussahaw Elementary school on August 4, 2021, in McDonough, Georgia, US. AP

Victoria Dickens wears a mask and face shield as she waits for her class assignment at Summit Elementary School in Summit, Mississippi on August 5, 2021, during the first day of the 2021-22 school year. AP

Lucie Phillips, 6, and her brother David Phillips, 3, join parents and students during a rally at Utah State School Board Office calling for mask mandate on August 6, 2021, in Salt Lake City. AP

A 17-year-old receives a first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at a mobile vaccination clinic during a back to school event offering school supplies, Covid-19 vaccinations, face masks, and other resources for children and their families at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Los Angeles, California on August 7, 2021. AFP

"But I also understand that the reason children are becoming infected is because, in most cases, they live in low-vaccination-rate states and communities, and they're getting it from unvaccinated adults. That is what is happening."

Higher risk has largely been concentrated among older and elderly people throughout the pandemic, but recent reports from the New York Times to local ICU hospitals are compelling for more research on Delta variant risk to children.

"I think most areas, we are nearing or exceeding paediatric intensive care capacity," said Mark Wietecha, the CEO of the Children's Hospital Association, told CNN.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the agency is investigating whether the Delta variant can cause severe illness in children, prior to a Times piece on severe illness and Long Covid symptoms in young people.

The Biden administration has insisted that US schools open as normally as possible, and the CDC has also recommended that everyone—including teachers, staff, and students—wear face masks no matter their vaccination status.

School districts in Florida and Texas are defying governor orders banning mask mandates for the school year.

California became the first US state to mandate that all teachers get vaccinated or face regular Covid-19 testing with a new announcement by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.

News agencies contributed to this report.