Over 13 million children in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, a report has stated.

The report by the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) and the Children’s Hospital Association, said over 62,000 additional child COVID-19 cases were reported in the week ending May 5.

AAP reported an increase of about 69 per cent from two weeks ago; marking the fourth consecutive weekly increase in reported child cases in the U.S.

The report said nearly 186,000 child COVID-19 cases had been added in the past four weeks and 5.2 million child cases had been added in 2022.

“There is an urgent need to collect more age-specific data to assess the severity of illness related to new variants as well as potential longer-term effects.

“It is important to recognise that there are immediate effects of the pandemic on children’s health but importantly, we need to identify and address the long-lasting impacts on the physical, mental and social well-being of this generation of children and youth,” the AAP said. 

(Xinhua/ NAN)