Over 1 mln U.S. children diagnosed with COVID-19, pediatricians say

Over a million children in the US under 18 have been diagnosed with coronavirus since the genesis of the the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Association said Monday. /Getty mages

Over a million children in the US under 18 have been diagnosed with coronavirus since the genesis of the the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatricsand Children's Hospital Associationsaid Monday.

"As ofNov.12,a total of1,039,464children have tested positive for the virus since the onset of the pandemic.In the one-week period endingNov.12th, there were111,946new cases in children,which issubstantiallylarger than any previous week in the pandemic," the groups said in a joint statement.

"The increase tracks surges in the virus in communities across theU.S.," they added.

"As a pediatricianwho has practiced medicine for over three decades,Ifind this number staggeringand tragic. We haven't seen a virusflashthrough our communities in this way since before we had vaccines for measles and polio," Dr. Sally Goza, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which represents pediatricians, said.

"We urgently need anew,nationwide strategy to control the pandemic, andthat should includeimplementing provenpublic health measureslikemask wearing and physical distancing," Goza added in a statement.

"This pandemic is taking a heavy tollon children,familiesand communities, as well as on physicians and other front-line medical teams.Wemustwork now torestore confidence in our public health and scientific agencies,createfiscal relief for families and pediatricians alike, andsupport the systems that support children and families such as our schools, mental health care, and nutrition assistance," she said.

While severe illness and deaths remain rare, the group urged health authorities to do more to collect data on longer-term effects on the health of children.

(With input from agencies)