Miami (AFP)

More and more American children are finding themselves caught in the wave of Covid-19 infections caused by the Delta variant in the United States, causing concern among parents and fueling political controversy just before schools reopen.

The current outbreak of the epidemic is particularly concentrated in Florida, where some school districts have announced that they want to challenge the governor's order prohibiting them from requiring the wearing of masks.

"Parents find themselves in an impossible situation, having to choose between health, the life of their child and their return to school," protested parents of disabled children in a complaint filed Friday against the governor's decision.

The majority of infected children will have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, and so far this population has not been of primary concern.

But with Delta, a highly contagious variant, things change.

This is largely the cause of the 72,000 cases recorded in children and adolescents in a week at the end of July, according to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a figure five times higher than at the end of June.

Nearly 20,000 cases were in Florida, according to data from the state, which also has the highest number of underage hospitalizations in the country, at 143 today.

"We have undoubtedly seen an increase in cases here, in the emergency room and also in other departments of the hospital, these last two or three weeks", confirmed to AFP the doctor Marcos Mestre, medical director in a hospital. for children of Miami.

- Tension around the mask -

Only about 1% of children diagnosed positive for Covid-19 will be hospitalized, according to him, with more likely complications for children with diabetes or overweight.

While studies have confirmed that Delta is the most contagious variant today, it is not yet certain whether it causes more severe forms of the disease.

Families protest the possibility of compulsory masks at school in Tampa, Fla. July 27, 2021 Octavio Jones GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP / Archives

Preliminary data shows that this could be the case in adults as in children but research must continue to be clear on it, according to Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), main agency. Federal Public Health Authority of the country.

One thing is clear: The regions of the northeastern United States, where vaccination rates are very high, have the lowest levels of infections among the youngest.

In other words, children are least safe in places where adults are least immunized.

With the number of cases exceeding those recorded in the summer outbreak a year ago, the CDC is now recommending that students, teachers and school staff keep their masks on, whether or not they are vaccinated.

But Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is threatening to cut funding to schools wishing to follow these recommendations by reimposing the mask requirement.

- The solution: the vaccine -

Several school districts, including the second largest in Florida, have announced they will challenge the Governor's Order.

The Republican Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis (c), at a press conference, June 24, 2021 in Miami Eva Marie UZCATEGUI AFP / Archives

The political battle has traced back to the White House, President Joe Biden having this week urged recalcitrant local leaders: "If you don't help us, at least don't get in our way."

The response was swift: "If you go after the rights of parents in Florida, I'll be in your way," replied Ron DeSantis.

According to Dr. Mobeen Rathore, a specialist in infectious diseases in children in Jacksonville, minimizing the risks in the youngest was a mistake.

Children "fall ill, are hospitalized" and some die from Covid-19, the doctor, who supports the wearing of compulsory masks at school, told AFP.

Like adults, children will eventually need to be vaccinated, he says.

The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine has been authorized since May as young as 12 years old in the United States, but clinical trials are still underway for younger children.

At a vaccination center in Miami, Sara Medina, 33, told AFP that she was relieved that the vaccine paves the way for her 12-year-old son, Jayden, to return to school.

Paediatricians are widely advocating for children to be able to attend school in person again, which benefits their mental health, academic but also social learning.

“It's important to have (the mask) just in case,” Jayden says.

"So that we are all safe."

© 2021 AFP