US Reports Weekly Record For COVID-19 Cases In Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics announced late Monday that the number of children contracting COVID-19 has soared to unprecedented levels, with nearly 200,000 new cases in the month of October. In just one week late last month, 61,000 new cases were reported in kids – more than any other week during the pandemic. 

In terms of overall cases, 18 states have broken daily records for new infections in the past week, and hospitalizations are up in 43 states. Since the start of the pandemic, over 9.2 million cases have been confirmed in the U.S. and more than 231,000 Americans have died due to the virus, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. 

The pandemic has led to an election season unlike any other before it in the United States. In the lead up to Election Day, record numbers of Americans have cast their ballots early, as the nation continues to battle the new surge in cases. 

The CDC says voters who are sick or quarantined can still go to the polls on Election Day, as long as they take proper precautions like wearing a mask. 

Contributing: Adriana Diaz and The Associated Press