The U.S. Can — and Must — Keep Kids Safe From Covid

Throughout the pandemic, it’s been comforting to know that children weather Covid-19 infection better than adults do. They often suffer no symptoms, and those they have are typically moderate. But the emergence of the delta variant has complicated matters. It’s spreading so fast that kids, most of whom can’t be vaccinated, are being infected in rising numbers — 121,000 in the past week, amounting to 18% of total reported cases in the U.S. Of course, as the numbers grow bigger, even rare serious cases become more common.

This explains increasing reports of children being hospitalized, and experiencing lingering headaches, fatigue and other symptoms of “long Covid.” That kids now are more vulnerable than ever is all the more reason to step up efforts to vaccinate adults, and to take all reasonable measures to protect children in schools and other public places.