AUSTIN, Texas — As the Centers for Disease Control recommends all children wear a mask at school and local health leaders say more children are being infected with the coronavirus, case levels in young children in Austin-Travis County are nearing July 2020 peak levels.
The 7-day moving average for new cases in children ages 1-9 is 15 as of Tuesday, July 27, and it's two for children under the age of one. The July 2020 peak was 19 for children ages 1-9 and three for under the age of one.
Cases in teens ages 10-19 are also increasing. Austin Public Health has already reported 105 new cases in this age group this week as of Tuesday, and the 7-day moving average for new cases is 26.
Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes cited a rise in children being hospitalized when she announced moving to Stage 4 last Friday, July 23.
A total of 523 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since Monday, July 12, were from children ages zero to 19. That’s 3.8% of total cases for this age group since March 2020.
During the week of July 19, there were 84 new cases in children ages 1-9. This week, 55 new cases have already been reported in this age group as of Tuesday.
For teens ages 10-19, Austin Public Health reported 126 new cases last week.
Austin Public Health has reported a total of 13,370 cases in the population ages zero to 19. These cases account for 15.6% of total confirmed cases in Austin-Travis County.
Case numbers in all age groups are up from July 1, but those 7-day moving averages for new cases in all other age groups, including 10-19, are well below July 2020 peak levels.
The January 2021 peak is also much greater than all current averages.
About 17.9% of teens ages 10-19 are vaccinated, according to APH's website. Currently, you must be 12 years old to receive the Pfizer vaccine and 18 years old to receive the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Neighboring Williamson County has reported of a total of 5,726 cases of COVID-19 in children ages zero to 17. That's 13.6% of its cumulative number of cases.
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