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How COVID is Affecting Children in Every State

How COVID is Affecting Children in Every State

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, schools switched to remote learning to stop the spread of the virus among children. Although children were at significantly lower risk of severe disease and death from the virus than the adult population, childhood cases of the virus nevertheless totaled 12.8 million, or 19% of the 67.4 million cases logged since the pandemic began, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children under age 18 make up 22.2% of the U.S. population, the AAP notes.

On a per capita basis, 17,024 cases were reported for every 100,000 children. Of course, as they do for adults, COVID-19 infection rates vary by state.

To find how COVID-19 is affecting children in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed Children and COVID-19 State-Level Data Report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association. Forty-nine states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam provide age distribution of reported COVID-19 cases, though states classify children by different age ranges. All other data is from the report.

We included all notes from the report explaining data limitations for some states. The report further notes that the data reported by state or local health departments is preliminary and subject to change.

The most recent surge, caused by the omicron variant, has also caused a spike in childhood cases. Since the beginning of January, 4.9 million children tested positive, per the AAP. It remains to be seen what effect the highly contagious BA.2 omicron subvariant, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports has now become dominant in the U.S., will have on children cases.

The omicron spike coincided with children returning to in-person classes in the fall, which underscored the importance of getting young children vaccinated. Fortunately, vaccination rates for children ages 12 to 17 are fairly high, with 67% in the age group having received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 58% two doses, as of late March.

For children ages 5 to 11, 34% have received one shot and 27% have received both doses. Trials are underway for a Pfizer vaccine for children under age 5, reports CNN.

Nine states – California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, and Arizona – reported more than 400,000 childhood COVID-19 cases as of March 24, the AAP reports. Illinois led all states with a cumulative total of 685,811 cases of children up to age 19. 

Conversely, Hawaii, Guam, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia reported fewer than 30,000 childhood cases.

Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Alabama
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 53,350 (12.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 4,900.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 8 (0.07% of all deaths)

– Due to available data and changes made to state dashboard, AL cumulative cases through 7/29/21

– Due to available data and changes made to dashboard, AL cumulative deaths through 7/29/21

Source: usdagov / Flickr

Alaska
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 63,743 (26.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 32,381.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 111 (3.00% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 2 (0.17% of all deaths)

Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Arizona
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 425,405 (21.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 23,137.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 4,707 (4.30% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 63 (0.22% of all deaths)

Source: BorderaS / E+ via Getty Images

Arkansas
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 167,135 (20.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 23,871.1
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 4 (0.04% of all deaths)

Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images News via Getty Images

California
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 1,598,940 (18.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,976.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 64 (0.07% of all deaths)

Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Colorado
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 269,026 (20.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 19,107.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,284 (3.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 31 (0.26% of all deaths)

Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Connecticut
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 162,181 (22.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,059.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 6 (0.06% of all deaths)

Source: Octavio Jones / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Delaware
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 53,202 (20.6% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 26,134.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 2 (0.07% of all deaths)

Source: Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images News via Getty Images

District of Columbia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 28,761 (21.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 19,259.1
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

– As of 3/10/22, due to data available, DC cumulative child cases through 3/3/22

Source: kali9 / E+ via Getty Images

Florida
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-14: 741,932 (12.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,124.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 42 (0.06% of all deaths)

– On 3/24/22, due to available data, FL cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 3/17/22

Source: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Georgia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 314,776 (16.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,571.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 3,249 (3.00% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 34 (0.11% of all deaths)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

Guam
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 12,855 (27.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,268.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 5 (1.47% of all deaths)

Source: YangYin / iStock via Getty Images

Hawaii
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 28,650 (19.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 9,554.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 203 (4.40% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 1 (0.09% of all deaths)

– Due to data available, HI cumulative child cases and cumulative cases for all ages through 1/13/22

– HI cumulative child hospitalizations and cumulative hospitalizations for all ages through 1/13/22

– Due to available data, HI cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 1/13/22

Source: PeskyMonkey / iStock via Getty Images

Idaho
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 63,759 (14.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 14,225.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 395 (2.40% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 2 (0.04% of all deaths)

Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Illinois
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 685,811 (22.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,804.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 39 (0.12% of all deaths)

Source: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Indiana
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 327,626 (19.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,667.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 3,407 (2.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 38 (0.17% of all deaths)

Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Iowa
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 136,486 (16% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,777.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

– Due to available data, IA cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 2/10/22

Source: Brian Davidson / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

Kansas
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 149,684 (19.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,375.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 485 (2.40% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 9 (0.11% of all deaths)

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Kentucky
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 293,225 (22.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 26,205.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Louisiana
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 222,558 (18.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 20,462.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 21 (0.12% of all deaths)

Source: Ryan David Brown / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Maine
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 60,897 (26% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,659.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 3 (0.14% of all deaths)

Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Maryland
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 221,034 (21.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 14,837.3
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 22 (0.15% of all deaths)

Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Massachusetts
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 274,310 (17.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,603.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 16 (0.08% of all deaths)

– MA changed reporting from total child cases to cases added in last two weeks; 3/24/22 totals calculated using MA Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 Dashboard published 3/24/22 (data from 3/6/22-3/19/22) and 3/3/22 version of this report;

– MA changed reporting from total child cases to cases added in last two weeks; 3/24/22 totals calculated using MA Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 Dashboard published 3/24/22 (data from 3/6/22-3/19/22) and 3/3/22 version of this report

Source: dgaken / Flickr

Michigan
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 484,587 (20.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 20,126.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 45 (0.13% of all deaths)

Source: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Minnesota
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 318,388 (22.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,028.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,579 (4.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 8 (0.06% of all deaths)

Source: CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Mississippi
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 150,234 (19% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,505.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 311 (2.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 13 (0.11% of all deaths)

– Due to data available, MS cumulative cases through 3/10/22

– Due to data available, MS cumulative cases through 3/10/22

Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Missouri
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 170,054 (15% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,407.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 15 (0.09% of all deaths)

Source: Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Montana
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 51,163 (18.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 20,110.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

Source: Rey Del Rio / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

Nebraska
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 94,438 (19.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,421.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 131 (1.90% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 5 (0.15% of all deaths)

– NE cumulative hospitalization data is no longer available; NE cumulative hospitalizations through 6/24

– NE mortality data by age are again available and included for 6/24/21 through 2/3/22

Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Nevada
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 111,056 (16.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,118.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 10 (0.10% of all deaths)

Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images News via Getty Images

New Hampshire
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 80,613 (26.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 27,698.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 51 (1.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 1 (0.04% of all deaths)

Source: Arturo Holmes / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

New Jersey
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 335,143 (17.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,288.1
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,603 (2.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 16 (0.05% of all deaths)

Source: Sharon Chischilly / Getty Images News via Getty Images

New Mexico
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 121,422 (23.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,836.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 633 (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 7 (0.00% of all deaths)

– NM began reporting hospitalizations by age; due to only data available, NM is excluded from hospitalization percentages

– NM began reporting mortality data by age; due to only available data, NM is excluded from mortality data percentages

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

North Carolina
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 488,707 (18.6% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,241.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 17 (0.07% of all deaths)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

North Dakota
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 50,008 (20.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 24,907.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 215 (2.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 3 (0.13% of all deaths)

– ND revised case data, resulting in a downward revision of cumulative child cases

– ND began reporting hospitalizations by age; As of 3/24/22, due to change in available data, ND cumulative child hospitalizations and cumulative hospitalizations for all ages through 3/27/22

– due to change in available data, ND cumulative deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 3/27/22

Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images News via Getty Images

NYC
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 317,940 (16.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,411.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 4,754 (3.00% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 35 (0.09% of all deaths)

Source: Wendy Van / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Ohio
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 491,610 (18.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,029.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 4,117 (3.60% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 34 (0.09% of all deaths)

– On 3/24/22, OH revised hospitalization data resulting in a downward revision of child hospitalizations

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

Oklahoma
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 161,049 (15.6% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,912.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 18 (0.13% of all deaths)

Source: hapabapa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Oregon
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 148,315 (21.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 15,361.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 917 (3.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 6 (0.09% of all deaths)

Source: Alex Potemkin / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Pennsylvania
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 530,872 (19.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,951.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 26 (0.06% of all deaths)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

Puerto Rico
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 77,132 (16.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,984.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 9 (0.22% of all deaths)

Source: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Rhode Island
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-18: 77,583 (22.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 35,181.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 448 (2.80% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

South Carolina
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-20: 359,443 (24.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 27,334.3
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 936 (2.50% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

– As of 8/19/21, SC began reporting mortality data by age

Source: RichVintage / E+ via Getty Images

South Dakota
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 44,620 (18.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,547.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 299 (2.80% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 5 (0.17% of all deaths)

Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Tennessee
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-20: 467,589 (23.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 26,527.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,095 (2.30% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 37 (0.15% of all deaths)

Source: Brandon Bell / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Texas
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: (0% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 0.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 127 (0.16% of all deaths)

– Texas previously reported age for only 2% of total confirmed cases and these cumulative cases through 8/26/21 are included (7,754); Cases per 100,000 children omitted for Texas; Data for Texas in this report is limited to the case count for which age is p

– As of 7/30/20, Texas provided age distribution for all COVID-19-associated deaths; Texas reported age for only 2% of total confirmed cases; As of 1/14/21, TX released new data that is only updated monthly- TX cumulative deaths through 2/3/22;

Source: George Frey / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Utah
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-14: 128,661 (13.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,606.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,267 (3.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

Source: vermontalm / iStock via Getty Images

Vermont
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 31,560 (27.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 23,479.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

Source: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Virginia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 349,944 (21% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,764.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,710 (3.50% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 19 (0.10% of all deaths)

– On 3/24/22, VA revised hospitalization data resulting in a downward revision of child hospitalizations

Source: Karen Ducey / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Washington
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 325,734 (22.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,700.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,193 (2.60% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 17 (0.17% of all deaths)

– As of 3/10/22, WA changed definition of child case from 0-19 to 0-17

– As of 1/13/22, due to data available and changes made to dashboard, WA cumulative child hospitalizations and cumulative hospitalizations for all ages through 1/6/22

– Due to available data and changes made to dashboard, WA cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 1/6/22

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

West Virginia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-20: 115,131 (23.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 28,605.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

Source: Andy Manis / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Wisconsin
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 346,334 (21.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 24,353.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,751 (4.60% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 14 (0.10% of all deaths)

Source: Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Wyoming
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-18: 21,219 (17.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 15,081.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)

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