Good Question: Is there an increase in COVID-19 cases in local children?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Nationwide, there’s been a surge in cases in kids as schools in other states bring students back to class.

The American Academy of Pediatrics found more than 97,000 children tested positive just during the last half of July, a 40% jump in those young cases since the pandemic began.

But what about here in Rochester and the Finger Lakes? Is the coronavirus spreading in young people?

Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Mike Mendoza says no, but there’s a catch.

“We aren’t yet testing that many [kids],” Mendoza said. “We haven’t had kids in what I would consider normal circumstances for months so for any community to say that they [kids] would have had to have some reconnection with normal and we aren’t quite there yet. I think the jury is still out as to what will happen when we reopen schools.”

News10NBC checked the numbers.

As of the end of July, only 221 cases out of the nearly 5,000 in Monroe County have been in kids 17-years-old or younger.

Dr. Mendoza says the key to keeping the virus out of schools, the only way COVID-19 gets on campus, is from students and teachers bringing it to school.

So, be sure to do those daily symptom screenings every day with your child.

For more back to school information click here.

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