"They" told us last year: Social distance, wear a mask, try to stay outdoors when possible. Get the vaccine.

Now, COVID infection rates have surpassed last year's peak(s). The delta variant is surging. It's more infectious. It doesn't seem to "care" that "kids don't get COVID."

But let's send kids back to school.

COVID-19 rates among kids have shot up (get the vaccine!) 240 percent since July.

And in the last 60 days, 60 percent of ALL COVID-19 cases in Georgia have been among K-12 kids.

States sound alarm over Covid-19 outbreaks among school kids

As school districts across the country reopen, some state officials are voicing concern about the vulnerability of children as the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant takes aim at the unvaccinated.

Covid-19 cases are surging among children as the school year begins — many in districts without mask mandates — continuing to force quarantines and other disruptions.

The latest weekly count of new pediatric cases — 243,373 — is about a 240% increase since July, the American Academy of Pediatrics said Monday.

Everyone 12 years and older is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine but vaccination among children ages 12 to 17 is lower than in older groups, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The US isn't alone. Covid-19 infections among children and adolescents in the Americas — including the US and Canada — have reached over 1.9 million, Dr. Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization, said on Wednesday.

There were more than 1.5 million Covid-19 cases among children and adolescents reported in the Americas all of last year.

In the US, some state officials are sounding the alarm: In the last 60 days, about 60% of all Covid-19 in Georgia happened in K-12 schools — about a sevenfold increase, state epidemiologist Dr. Cherie Drenzek said during a Department of Public Health board meeting Tuesday.

“The most significant epidemiologic trend that we have seen, that was much different than previous waves of this pandemic, is the tremendous impact that we have seen on school-aged children,” she said.

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Make it a great day!

Bill

🍺 PS - Buy me a beer. Just because.