As students prepare to return from winter break, a WRAL Investigates analysis found that children ages 10 to 14 have the highest COVID-19 case rate in North Carolina.
Raleigh, N.C. — As students prepare to return from winter break, a WRAL Investigates analysis found that children ages 10 to 14 have the highest COVID-19 case rate in North Carolina. Since the start of the pandemic, young adults ages 18 to 24 have had the most coronavirus cases per population – with about 20,900 per every 100,000 residents that age. But since the surge in cases from the coronavirus’ delta variant in August,10- to 14-year-olds have seen the highest rates. During mid-August, that rate reached 871 cases per 100,000 people — the highest case rate for any age group since the pandemic began. The first wave of the delta variant caused more children to have to be hospitalized. So far, there is no data from the state Department of Health and Human Services to indicate that omicron is sending more children to the hospital. But other states, like Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York, have reported a huge spike in pediatric hospitalizations. “Anytime you have children coming together, there is always a risk of transmission,” said Dr.
