When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, schools switched to remote learning to stop the spread of the virus among children. Although children were at significantly lower risk of severe disease and death from the virus than the adult population, childhood cases of the virus nevertheless totaled 12.8 million, or 19% of the 67.4 million cases logged since the pandemic began, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children under age 18 make up 22.2% of the U.S. population, the AAP notes.
On a per capita basis, 17,024 cases were reported for every 100,000 children. Of course, as they do for adults, COVID-19 infection rates vary by state.
To find how COVID-19 is affecting children in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed Children and COVID-19 State-Level Data Report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association. Forty-nine states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam provide age distribution of reported COVID-19 cases, though states classify children by different age ranges. All other data is from the report.
We included all notes from the report explaining data limitations for some states. The report further notes that the data reported by state or local health departments is preliminary and subject to change.
The most recent surge, caused by the omicron variant, has also caused a spike in childhood cases. Since the beginning of January, 4.9 million children tested positive, per the AAP. It remains to be seen what effect the highly contagious BA.2 omicron subvariant, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports has now become dominant in the U.S., will have on children cases.
The omicron spike coincided with children returning to in-person classes in the fall, which underscored the importance of getting young children vaccinated. Fortunately, vaccination rates for children ages 12 to 17 are fairly high, with 67% in the age group having received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 58% two doses, as of late March.
For children ages 5 to 11, 34% have received one shot and 27% have received both doses. Trials are underway for a Pfizer vaccine for children under age 5, reports CNN.
Nine states – California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, and Arizona – reported more than 400,000 childhood COVID-19 cases as of March 24, the AAP reports. Illinois led all states with a cumulative total of 685,811 cases of children up to age 19.
Conversely, Hawaii, Guam, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia reported fewer than 30,000 childhood cases.
Click here to see how COVID is affecting children in every state
Alabama
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 53,350 (12.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 4,900.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 8 (0.07% of all deaths)
– Due to available data and changes made to state dashboard, AL cumulative cases through 7/29/21
– Due to available data and changes made to dashboard, AL cumulative deaths through 7/29/21
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Alaska
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 63,743 (26.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 32,381.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 111 (3.00% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 2 (0.17% of all deaths)
Arizona
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 425,405 (21.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 23,137.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 4,707 (4.30% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 63 (0.22% of all deaths)
Arkansas
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 167,135 (20.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 23,871.1
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 4 (0.04% of all deaths)
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California
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 1,598,940 (18.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,976.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 64 (0.07% of all deaths)
Colorado
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 269,026 (20.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 19,107.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,284 (3.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 31 (0.26% of all deaths)
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Connecticut
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 162,181 (22.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,059.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 6 (0.06% of all deaths)
Delaware
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 53,202 (20.6% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 26,134.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 2 (0.07% of all deaths)
District of Columbia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 28,761 (21.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 19,259.1
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
– As of 3/10/22, due to data available, DC cumulative child cases through 3/3/22
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Florida
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-14: 741,932 (12.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,124.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 42 (0.06% of all deaths)
– On 3/24/22, due to available data, FL cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 3/17/22
Georgia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 314,776 (16.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,571.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 3,249 (3.00% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 34 (0.11% of all deaths)
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Guam
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 12,855 (27.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,268.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 5 (1.47% of all deaths)
Hawaii
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 28,650 (19.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 9,554.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 203 (4.40% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 1 (0.09% of all deaths)
– Due to data available, HI cumulative child cases and cumulative cases for all ages through 1/13/22
– HI cumulative child hospitalizations and cumulative hospitalizations for all ages through 1/13/22
– Due to available data, HI cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 1/13/22
Idaho
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 63,759 (14.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 14,225.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 395 (2.40% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 2 (0.04% of all deaths)
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Illinois
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 685,811 (22.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,804.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 39 (0.12% of all deaths)
Indiana
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 327,626 (19.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,667.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 3,407 (2.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 38 (0.17% of all deaths)
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Iowa
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 136,486 (16% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,777.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
– Due to available data, IA cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 2/10/22
Kansas
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 149,684 (19.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,375.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 485 (2.40% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 9 (0.11% of all deaths)
Kentucky
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 293,225 (22.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 26,205.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
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Louisiana
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 222,558 (18.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 20,462.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 21 (0.12% of all deaths)
Maine
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 60,897 (26% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,659.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 3 (0.14% of all deaths)
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Maryland
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 221,034 (21.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 14,837.3
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 22 (0.15% of all deaths)
Massachusetts
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 274,310 (17.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,603.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 16 (0.08% of all deaths)
– MA changed reporting from total child cases to cases added in last two weeks; 3/24/22 totals calculated using MA Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 Dashboard published 3/24/22 (data from 3/6/22-3/19/22) and 3/3/22 version of this report;
– MA changed reporting from total child cases to cases added in last two weeks; 3/24/22 totals calculated using MA Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 Dashboard published 3/24/22 (data from 3/6/22-3/19/22) and 3/3/22 version of this report
Michigan
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 484,587 (20.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 20,126.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 45 (0.13% of all deaths)
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Minnesota
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 318,388 (22.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,028.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,579 (4.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 8 (0.06% of all deaths)
Mississippi
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 150,234 (19% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,505.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 311 (2.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 13 (0.11% of all deaths)
– Due to data available, MS cumulative cases through 3/10/22
– Due to data available, MS cumulative cases through 3/10/22
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Missouri
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 170,054 (15% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,407.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 15 (0.09% of all deaths)
Montana
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 51,163 (18.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 20,110.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
Nebraska
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 94,438 (19.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,421.6
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 131 (1.90% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 5 (0.15% of all deaths)
– NE cumulative hospitalization data is no longer available; NE cumulative hospitalizations through 6/24
– NE mortality data by age are again available and included for 6/24/21 through 2/3/22
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Nevada
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 111,056 (16.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,118.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 10 (0.10% of all deaths)
New Hampshire
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 80,613 (26.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 27,698.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 51 (1.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 1 (0.04% of all deaths)
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New Jersey
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 335,143 (17.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,288.1
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,603 (2.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 16 (0.05% of all deaths)
New Mexico
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 121,422 (23.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 22,836.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 633 (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 7 (0.00% of all deaths)
– NM began reporting hospitalizations by age; due to only data available, NM is excluded from hospitalization percentages
– NM began reporting mortality data by age; due to only available data, NM is excluded from mortality data percentages
North Carolina
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 488,707 (18.6% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 21,241.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 17 (0.07% of all deaths)
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North Dakota
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 50,008 (20.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 24,907.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 215 (2.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 3 (0.13% of all deaths)
– ND revised case data, resulting in a downward revision of cumulative child cases
– ND began reporting hospitalizations by age; As of 3/24/22, due to change in available data, ND cumulative child hospitalizations and cumulative hospitalizations for all ages through 3/27/22
– due to change in available data, ND cumulative deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 3/27/22
NYC
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 317,940 (16.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,411.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 4,754 (3.00% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 35 (0.09% of all deaths)
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Ohio
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 491,610 (18.4% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,029.2
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 4,117 (3.60% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 34 (0.09% of all deaths)
– On 3/24/22, OH revised hospitalization data resulting in a downward revision of child hospitalizations
Oklahoma
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 161,049 (15.6% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,912.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 18 (0.13% of all deaths)
Oregon
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 148,315 (21.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 15,361.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 917 (3.20% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 6 (0.09% of all deaths)
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Pennsylvania
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 530,872 (19.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,951.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 26 (0.06% of all deaths)
Puerto Rico
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 77,132 (16.1% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 12,984.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 9 (0.22% of all deaths)
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Rhode Island
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-18: 77,583 (22.7% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 35,181.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 448 (2.80% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
South Carolina
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-20: 359,443 (24.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 27,334.3
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 936 (2.50% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
– As of 8/19/21, SC began reporting mortality data by age
South Dakota
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 44,620 (18.8% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 18,547.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 299 (2.80% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 5 (0.17% of all deaths)
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Tennessee
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-20: 467,589 (23.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 26,527.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,095 (2.30% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 37 (0.15% of all deaths)
Texas
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: (0% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 0.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 127 (0.16% of all deaths)
– Texas previously reported age for only 2% of total confirmed cases and these cumulative cases through 8/26/21 are included (7,754); Cases per 100,000 children omitted for Texas; Data for Texas in this report is limited to the case count for which age is p
– As of 7/30/20, Texas provided age distribution for all COVID-19-associated deaths; Texas reported age for only 2% of total confirmed cases; As of 1/14/21, TX released new data that is only updated monthly- TX cumulative deaths through 2/3/22;
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Utah
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-14: 128,661 (13.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,606.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,267 (3.70% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
Vermont
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 31,560 (27.3% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 23,479.5
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
Virginia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 349,944 (21% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 16,764.4
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,710 (3.50% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 19 (0.10% of all deaths)
– On 3/24/22, VA revised hospitalization data resulting in a downward revision of child hospitalizations
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Washington
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-17: 325,734 (22.5% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 17,700.0
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 1,193 (2.60% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 17 (0.17% of all deaths)
– As of 3/10/22, WA changed definition of child case from 0-19 to 0-17
– As of 1/13/22, due to data available and changes made to dashboard, WA cumulative child hospitalizations and cumulative hospitalizations for all ages through 1/6/22
– Due to available data and changes made to dashboard, WA cumulative child deaths and cumulative deaths for all ages through 1/6/22
West Virginia
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-20: 115,131 (23.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 28,605.9
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
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Wisconsin
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-19: 346,334 (21.9% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 24,353.8
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: 2,751 (4.60% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 14 (0.10% of all deaths)
Wyoming
> Cumulative child cases, age range 0-18: 21,219 (17.2% of all cases)
> Child cases per 100,000 children: 15,081.7
> Cumulative child hospitalizations: No data (No data% of all hospitalizations)
> Child COVID-19-related deaths: 0 (0.00% of all deaths)
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