Record number of kids in US test positive for Covid ahead of election

More than 61,000 children were diagnosed with the virus during the last week of October

Rising coronavirus case counts across the US are affecting children at "unprecedented levels," according to new data released by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association.

Last week, 61,447 American children tested positive for Covid-19, setting a new high for any 7-day span since the beginning of the pandemic. In total, more than 853,000 children have contracted the virus this year, including nearly 200,000 new cases during the month of October alone.

Pediatric cases now account for 11 percent of all cases in the US, up from just two percent in April.

"This is a stark reminder of the impact this pandemic is having on everyone – including our children and adolescents," said Sally Goza, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organization tracks data from state health departments in 49 states, as well as New York City, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Ms Goza added, "This virus is highly contagious, and as we see spikes in many communities, children are more likely to be infected, too."

The report says 121 American children have died from Covid-19 this year, though that tally does not include a 13-year-old boy who died over the weekend in Missouri. In a statement from the boy's school district, his family urged people to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

"Covid-19 is real and they want to remind students and parents to take these precautions in and outside of school," the statement read.

The increase in cases among children comes as the US is experiencing a surge of infection rates and hospitalizations, as well as a potential third wave of the virus heading into the winter. The AAP noted, however, that the numbers are likely an undercount, since children often experience mild or no symptoms and many children go untested.

The AAP urges people to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and following other public health recommendations to protect children and their communities.