COVID cases up 76% among kids in recent weeks

COVID cases up 76% among kids in recent weeks It's not just among kids — infections are on the rise nationwide. YahooNews

COVID-19 cases among kids have climbed 76% in recent weeks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The increase comes as Pfizer's booster shot for kids ages 5 to 11 was recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — even though only 28% of children in that age group have received their two doses.

"This current wave of infections among kids could well land a lot of kids in the hospital," Kaiser Health News' Dr. Celine Gounder told CBS News.

It's not just among kids — infections are on the rise nationwide. In the past month alone, COVID cases have soared more than 168%. New cases are nearing 100,000 per day. Nationwide, hospitalizations are on the rise in 40 states and cases are increasing in 41 states.

"The reality is much worse because we're undercounting COVID cases," Gounder said. "Many people are testing at home, using at-home rapid tests and many people are not testing at all."

Some health officials are concerned it could be the beginning of a fifth wave.

About one-third of the nation lives in areas where COVID infections are at medium or high risk levels. Public health officials are urging some communities with rising cases to return to stricter pandemic measures, including indoor masks.

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