Several Florida physicians hosted a Zoom conference Wednesday to call upon Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump to act immediately to ensure schools are adequately prepared to reopen.
Citing the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Florida children, they say they are sounding the alarm that "without urgent, needed reforms, the state’s schools could be dangerous super-spreader events for COVID-19."
In attendance for the Zoom conference, was Dr. Leonardo Alonso, a Jacksonville emergency medicine physician as well as Dr. Bernard Ashby, a Miami cardiologist and Dr. Mona Mangat, a St. Petersburg allergist and immunologist.
All three doctors say that they are also concerned parents.
COVID-19 hospitalizations of Florida children jumped 23% from July 17 to July 24.
In the eight-day period, there was also a 34% increase in new cases among children in the state, according to an analysis report of the Florida Department of Health data.
During that same time, came the death of Kimora Lynum, a 9-year-old girl from Putnam County who is the youngest person to die from COVID-19 in the state. The family spokesperson said she had no preexisting conditions, but that doesn’t mean her death came as a surprise to medical experts.
“I think this goes to show that anybody of any age can contract COVID-19 if they’re in contact with someone who’s infected," UF Health Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Mark Hudak said.
Although it's rare for children to get severely ill from coronavirus, Hudak explained that doesn’t mean they are less likely to contract it.