Cases of childhood COVID-19 increase as students return to classrooms, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics

CAMDEN, New Jersey (WPVI) – As millions of students return to school, health officials say the United States is still facing its most troubling rise.

Hundreds of thousands of American children now test positive for COVID-19 each week, according to a weekly report recently released by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.

And with the sound of the bell, schools reopened the entire region.

In Camden, New Jersey, after 18 months of e-learning, the children returned to the classrooms.

“There is no substitute for a teacher to be in front of students in the classroom,” Camden City Superintendent Katrina McCombs said.

But students and staff will wear masks under the obligations of other schools in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

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Health officials report that about 252,000 American children tested positive for COVID-19 last week, the highest recorded week of pediatric infections. The Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association point out that, at this time, serious illnesses due to COVID-19 remain uncommon among children.

Mask warrants have not been without controversy. In Pennsylvania, some lawmakers and parents plan to sue the Wolf administration, alleging that incumbent Secretary of Health Alison Beam does not have the authority to demand masks from schools.

Some Republican Party leaders have argued that this is the governor’s way of overcoming the recently passed constitutional amendments that limit his emergency powers.

“One of the things we are concerned about is the misuse of existing legislation,” said Jason Gottesman, a spokesman for the Caucus Republican House in Pennsylvania.

In response to the lawsuit, a governor’s spokesman said, “SOH’s authority is clearly described in current legislation. We need Republicans to stop spending time undermining public health and instead encourage people. to get vaccinated “.

Meanwhile, the cleaning industry points out that while the virus is mostly airborne, you can get infected by touching a contaminated surface, such as a shared desk, handrails, door handles, or water fountains.

“These high points of contact, making sure we have a routine hygienic cleaning program and a disinfection program is really important,” said Patty Olinger of the Biorisc Global Advisory Board. “Make sure children understand good hygiene and wash their hands and also have a hand sanitizer available.”

Pennsylvania House lawmakers plan to return to Harrisburg earlier than scheduled for Sept. 20 to address the issue.

A court hearing on the lawsuit is set for Wednesday.