Covid-19 pandemic: What we know about Delta variant and children

The case for immunising children is much less clear-cut than it is with adults, who are at greater risk of getting seriously ill

Covid-19 cases among children are surging across the world amid Delta-fuelled outbreaks, spurring hospitalisations and raising concern about the risk of severe illness and persistent “long hauler” symptoms. It’s also prompted questions about the safety of schools.

How common is Covid in children?

In the US, as of September 16, more than 5.5 million children and adolescents had tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics. That represents 15.7 per cent of all cases, though individuals under 18 make up 22.2 per cent of the US population. However, after declining in early