You have likely heard that COVID-19 is not supposed to make children sick, so what’s with the reports that kids are dying with COVID-19?
“Whereas most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe, serious COVID-19 illness resulting in hospitalization still occurs in this age group.”
Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020
So far, while only about 5% of cases in the United States have occurred in children and teens who are less than 18 years old, some of those “pediatric COVID-19 cases were hospitalized.”

Some were even admitted to the ICU and tragically, some have died.
Are Kids Dying With COVID-19?
How many kids?
So far, as of early-January, there have been over 2,378,000 COVID-19 deaths worldwide (all ages), including over 473,000 deaths in the United States (all ages).
“In China, the novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of a 10-month-old and a 14-year-old, at least.”
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of an infant and a teenager
And some of those deaths have been in children.
“Three deaths were reported among the pediatric cases included in this analysis; however, review of these cases is ongoing to confirm COVID-19 as the likely cause of death.”
Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020
It’s important to note that some these recent COVID-19 deaths in children are still being investigated, but according to reports they include:
- a teenager in California who did not have any preexisting conditions (being investigated by the CDC to see if from COVID-19)
a six-week old infant in Connecticut who tested positive forSARS-CoV-2 during postmortem testing– the medical examiner later listed “unsafe sleep in bassinet with soft bedding” as the reason for the baby’s death- a young child (under age 5 years) with underlying health conditions in Hamilton County, Tennessee
an 11-year-old in Georgia– was an adult with an incorrectly reported age…- a 9-month-infant in Chicago
- a 22-week old premature baby whose mother with COVID-19 went into premature labor (in general, the survival rate at 22 weeks is extremely low, improving as you get closer to 24 to 25 weeks)
- a 13-year-old in Colorado who had an underlying seizure disorder
- a 5-year-old in Detroit, Michigan – the daughter of two area first responders
- a teen boy in Washoe County, Nevada who had underlying health conditions
- a teen girl from Will County, Illinois
- a 17-year-old girl in Dallas County, Texas who did not have underlying health conditions
- a child in Yuma County, Arizona with underlying conditions
- a 4-year-old in New Jersey with underlying conditions
- a 12-year-old boy in Cook County, Illinois
- a 15-year-old in Baltimore County, Maryland
The latest reports of COVID-19 deaths include:
- an infant and a teen in Alabama
- a 17-year-old in Pasco County, Florida
- a teen with underlying health issues in Fort Myers, Florida
- two young children in Hamilton County, Tennessee
- an 11-year-0ld in Florida
- a 9-year-old with no underlying health conditions in Florida
- a 5-year-old with underlying high-risk health conditions in Dallas, Texas
- a 13-year-old in California
a teen in Cook County, Illinois- a 16-year-old girl from Miami-Dade County, Florida
- a 17-year-old boy from Manatee County, Florida
- a 6-year-old in Omaha, Nebraska
- a 6-year-old in Madison County, Tennessee
- a 7-year-old in Chatham County, Georgia
- an 18-year old teen in Kansas
- a 15-year-old in Gwinnett County, Georgia
- a child in Pharr, Texas
- a 9-year old in Ohio
- a child under the age of 5-years in Iowa
- a 6-year-old in Hillsborough County, Florida
- a child under the age of 17-years in Fresno County, California
- a 13-year-old in Shelby County, Tennessee
- a 14-year-old from Cornelia in Habersham County, Georgia
- a 1-year-old in Cobb County, Georgia
- a 12-year old in Pierce County, Georgia
- a 2-month-old in Michigan (had gastroschisis)
- a 2-year-old in Escambia County, Florida
- a teen in the Southside Health District of Virginia
- a 12-year-old in Atlantic Beach, Florida.
- a 17-year-old in North Dakota.
- an 18-year-old from the Chicago area who was attending the University of Dayton
- an 8th grader in eastern Missouri
- a kindergartner in Texas died of COVID-19.
- a 16-year-old in Baltimore County, Maryland.
- a teenager in Hamilton County, Tennessee
- an 18-year-old who had been recovering from COVID-19 died in Melvindale, Michigan
- a 15-year-old with Down syndrome who had just gone into remission for leukemia died in Ballard County, Kentucky
- a 15-year-old in Spokane County, Washington died of COVID-19
- a young child in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania with underlying medical conditions died of COVID-19
- a child under age 9 years in Maryland
- a junior at Madison East High School in died after a brief coronavirus-related illness in Madison, Wisconsin.
- a 15-year-old with multiple underlying health issues died of COVID-19 in Kennewick, Washington.
- a one year old in Maryland has died of COVID-19
- a 17-year-old in Forth Worth, Texas died of COVID-19
- a 10-year-old in San Diego
- A 9-year-old boy from Vernon, Texas and a boy less than 1 year old died in consecutive days two weeks ago at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
- A 6-year-old in Fort Worth died from COVID-related complications.
- A San Antonio fourth grade student passed away just days after testing positive for COVID-19.
- A child between 5 and 9 years of age died of COVID-19 in Chippewa County, Minn.
Experts have still not confirmed that COVID-19 caused all of these deaths.

Still, the AAP reports that there have been at least 227 COVID-19 deaths in children in the United States and cases are on the rise in many areas.
“During February 12–July 31, 2020, a total of 391,814 cases of COVID-19 and MIS-C (representing approximately 8% of all reported cases) and 121 deaths (approximately 0.08% of all deaths) were identified among persons aged <21 years in the United States.”
SARS-CoV-2–Associated Deaths Among Persons Aged <21 Years — United States, February 12–July 31, 2020
While there are far fewer COVID-19 deaths in children than in adults, since fewer kids are reportedly getting infected, the number of deaths is concerning.
“Among the 121 decedents, 30 (25%) were previously healthy (no reported underlying medical condition), 91 (75%) had at least one underlying medical condition, and 54 (45%) had two or more underlying medical conditions.”
SARS-CoV-2–Associated Deaths Among Persons Aged <21 Years — United States, February 12–July 31, 2020
And that’s why it is important to continue to encourage your kids to follow all social distancing recommendations.

Keep in mind that there have been an additional 30 deaths in children from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is associated with COVID-19.
How Many Kids Have Died With Covid-19?
So just how many kids have died with COVID-19?
We still don’t have exact numbers, but it is easy to see that well over 200 nearly 300 children have died with COVID-19.
More on COVID-19 Deaths
- How Many People Have Really Died With COVID-19?
- Misinformation about COVID-19 Deaths
- What is the COVID-19 Multi-System Inflammatory State?
- COVID-19 Registry List
- What is the COVID-19 Mortality Rate?
- When to Call Your Pediatrician – COVID-19 Edition
- Should You Be Tested for COVID-19?
- 5 Things You Need to Know About COVID-19
- What to Do if You Have Been Exposed to COVID-19
- What to Do if You Have Been Diagnosed with COVID-19
- The Majority Of Children Who Die From COVID-19 Are Children Of Color
- MMWR – SARS-CoV-2–Associated Deaths Among Persons Aged <21 Years — United States, February 12–July 31, 2020
- MMWR – Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020
- MMWR – COVID-19–Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — United States, March–July 2020
- MMWR – Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Children Aged <18 Years Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1–July 25, 2020
- CDC – COVID-19 Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers
- CDC – COVID Data Tracker
- Study – SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children
- Study – Epidemiological Characteristics of 2143 Pediatric Patients With 2019 Coronavirus Disease in China
- AAP – Children and COVID-19: State-Level Data Report as of 7/2/20
- Virtual Pediatric Systems
- CDC – Health Department-Reported Cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in the United States
- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of an infant and a teenager
- L.A. County teen’s death may be coronavirus-related. Here’s what we know
- Man charged in death of infant son who had COVID-19; 6 responding Warren officers quarantined
- Why children are not immune to Covid-19
- U.S. Coronavirus Rates Are Rising Fast Among Children