As kids return to school, most Florida counties report COVID-19 cases four times higher than last year

Most Florida children return to school in areas where COVID-19 outbreaks are much more intense than they were when school started last year.

In most counties, cases are at least four times higher than a year ago, according to a USA TODAY Network analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. Five counties report an increase of more than ten times.

Cases among children are also increasing, raising questions about the health consequences of returning students to campuses and a state ban on school masks when vaccines are only available to some of the schoolchildren.

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Public health experts and pediatricians said last fall that the most important factor to consider when deciding to start in-person classes was the amount of viral spread in the community at large. With cases much higher than last year, districts are going against these recommendations by welcoming students to campus and limiting online learning options. These measures follow instructions from the state government, which also prohibited schools from requiring masks for all children.

In the seven days leading up to last Friday’s state report, Florida recorded 13,596 cases in children under 12 and 13,858 cases in 12-19 year olds.

COVID in Florida This Year Versus 2020

In the corresponding report a year ago, Florida reported 2,396 cases under 12 and 3,596 cases 12 to 19.

In five counties – Indian River, Liberty, Sarasota, St. Johns and Pasco – the number of new weekly cases is more than 10 times what it was before the start of the last school year.

In 31 counties, nearly half of Florida’s counties, the number of new cases was at least five times higher than before those counties started school in 2020.

The story continues

Cases have fallen in just six counties: Baker, Calhoun, Dixie, Lafayette, Taylor and Union. The state’s other 61 counties saw increases of at least 11.7%.

As the number of cases among young people has increased, the number of children requiring hospitalization for COVID-19 has also increased.

In Northeast Florida: 10 children with COVID-19 admitted to Baptist Health in Jacksonville in just 24 hours

In Northwest Florida: Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Escambia County break an all-time record. And it is far from over.

The share of young people in the total number of coronavirus cases in Florida has increased slightly more than in the rest of the population, for whom the infection has also skyrocketed.

In early August 2020, when most schools in Florida offered strong online learning options, the state reported an average of 11 pediatric admissions per day. In the first week of August this year, the state recorded an average of 49 new pediatric admissions per day.

The Coronavirus in Kids Tracking And Education Project says Florida has the nation’s highest rate of new coronavirus cases among young people, although the age groups do not match some other states.

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for emergency use in children as young as 12 years old. Vaccinations not only reduce the risk of becoming ill with COVID-19 and reduce the spread of the virus throughout the community, but significantly reduce the severity of illness and the likelihood of hospitalization or death if someone is infected.

Until the end of June, the CDC reports 65 deaths among people under the age of 19 in Florida, which is a higher death rate among young people than all other states except five and 55% higher than the rate. national, according to the Coronavirus in Kids project.

The CDC says children can transmit the coronavirus just as much as adults, although children’s cases tend to be milder. Multiple prevention measures in schools, including masking, ventilation and distancing, can help reduce dangers, the CDC said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID cases soar as Florida schools reopen