BISMARCK, N.D. (CCHD) – Children and teens now make up a greater proportion of COVID-19 infections. This age group now accounts for 27% of the 3,736 active cases during the week ending Sunday, October 10.
When the pandemic started in March 2021, kids accounted for under 20% of all COVID-19 cases.
During this time North Dakota has had 1,011 active covid cases in children.
Dr. Stephen McDonough, a retired Bismarck pediatrician and former senior official in the ND Department of Health explains that cases are spreading rapidly among children under 12 because they are not eligible for vaccinations yet and many schools are not masking.
Last week four children were in the hospital, and since the pandemic began 117 children have been hospitalized in North Dakota. One 17 year old girl died from COVID-19.
Also affecting children and teens is the loss of a caregiver. One U.S. child loses a parent or caregiver for every four COVID-19 deaths, reports a new study in the journal Pediatrics. From April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, data suggest that more than 140,000 children under age 18 in the United States lost a parent, custodial grandparent, or grandparent caregiver who provided the child’s home and basic needs, including love, security, and daily care.
McDonough emphasizes the importance of wearing masks and getting vaccinated.
Infection rates among children are much higher in western North Dakota than in the eastern part of the state, McDonough said. The seven-day case rate per 100,000 population ranged from 560.2 in Billings County, which includes Medora, to 9.3 in Pembina County, which includes Pembina, according to McDonough’s calculations.
The average for North Dakota was 78.1. Any rate greater than 25 is considered out-of-control spread. Cases in children have grown 13-fold over the past 2½ months, showing exponential growth, McDonough said.
7-day case rates for children in selected North Dakota counties:
Barnes (Valley City), 120.9
Burleigh (Bismarck), 109.5
Morton (Mandan), 101.0
Richland (Wahpeton), 91.5
Stutsman (Jamestown), 81.7
Cass (Fargo and West Fargo), 71.4
Ward (Minot), 71.1
Williams (Williston), 58.1
Ramsey (Devils Lake), 57.6
Grand Forks, 40
Rates are per 100,000 population. Source: North Dakota Department of Health, Dr. Stephen McDonough
The material used in this article above were partially taken from the Forum and Grand Forks Herald along with other health field related sources in North Dakota.