Pittsburgh doctors concerned over rising COVID-19 cases in kids

PITTSBURGH — As families prepare for back-to-school in just a few weeks, UPMC officials are warning about an uptick in COVID-19 cases in children.

While the numbers haven’t been huge, hospital officials said they are worried about the rate of spread of the delta variant.

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh reported that 30 children have been hospitalized in the last month after testing positive for COVID-19. In the last week, there were 11 hospitalizations, which included babies.

Healthcare officials are urging parents with children 12 and older to get vaccinated, and for all kids to wear masks.

“A similar number of children have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. as the number of children who die from car crashes in the U.S. So, we’re not stopping putting seat belts on our kids, why would we stop putting masks on our kids?” said Dr. John Williams, a pediatric doctor with UPMC.

Williams also encouraged parents to get their kids outside more, where the virus doesn’t spread as easily.

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