There is still a lot we don’t know about how the coronavirus impacts children. But accumulating research suggests children are not immune, and infections disproportionately impact Black and Brown youth. The racial disparities among D.C. children who contracted COVID-19 are stark.

Let’s take a look at two reports published within the last two weeks. The first comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association and says at least 97,000 children nationwide tested positive in the last two weeks of July. More than 338,000 children have tested positive since the start of the pandemic, meaning more than a quarter of the total cases tested positive in just two weeks. The report says that 6.9 percent of the District’s total cases are young people between the ages of 0 and 19, as of July 30. 

The second report, published in Pediatrics by Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University researchers, finds children of color or children living in low-income households were more likely to be infected early in the pandemic than White children. Researchers tested 1,000 children at a Northeast D.C. testing site in March and April and found that 20.7 percent tested positive for COVID-19. White children tested positive 7.3 percent of the time, while Latinx children tested positive at a rate of 46.4 percent and Black children at a rate of 30.0 percent. 

“Although it was beyond the scope of this study to understand the causes for these differential rates of infection, the causes may be multifactorial, and include, but are not limited to structural factors, poorer access to health care, limited resources, as well as bias and discrimination,” the study says. 

The study points out that people of color are more likely to work essential jobs, have a higher reliance on public transportation, and live in crowded settings. The study tracks with racial disparities among D.C.’s total COVID-19 case count.  

Researchers are more confident that children who are exposed to the coronavirus are unlikely to get really sick. The first report indicated hospitalizations are rare. However, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a COVID-19 related illness hits Black and Brown youth at disproportionate rates too. Of the 570 cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome among young people—0 to 20 years of age—40 percent were Latinx and 33 percent were Black, while 13 percent were White.

—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)       

  • As of Aug. 11, D.C. reported two additional deaths related to COVID-19 and 89 new positive cases, bringing the total numbers to 593 and 12,896, respectively. [EOM] 

  • Federal scientists finally begin addressing the massive COVID-19 outbreak in a Virginia detention center. [Post]

  • Community leaders unpack what it means to police mass gatherings in the wake of a deadly block party. [DCist] 

  • Two people who live in tents along Dupont Circle say their neighbors cleared their belongings when they were given an Airbnb for a night. [Street Sense]

  • The best meteor shower of the year peaks tonight. [Post, NASA]

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • You can vote at Capital One Arena. [DCist]

  • Virginia gets almost $3 million from the CARES Act to help with affordable housing. [WAMU]

  • Fabian Tinisely died of COVID-19 in prison. BOP officials didn’t tell his family for 113 days. [WUSA]

  • The Washington Post’s archives are disappearing from LexisNexis. [Washingtonian]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Are local chefs actually making any money from their online cooking classes or do people have Zoom fatigue? [WCP]

  • Beuchert’s Saloon is turning into a sandwich shop serving boozy punch. [Washingtonian]

  • Signage has been removed from Sichuan Pavilion, suggesting the Chinese restaurant has closed. [PoPville]

  • Why hospitality workers are unlikely to see their $400 unemployment checks from the federal government. [Eater]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • In Arlington, Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s name is on a number of public spaces—but people are trying to change that. [DCist]

  • The Lucy Burns Museum in Lorton honors the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. [Post]

  • Theater J is offering online classes centering on how to be a more engaged and conscious audience member. [DC Theatre Scene]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The controversy continues for the Washington Football Team. As part of his defamation case against Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide, a company based in India, Dan Snyder is accusing an ex-employee of taking money to help spread damaging information about him. [ESPN]

  • Ex-Washington running back Derrius Guice has been charged with “one count of felony strangulation, three counts of assault and battery and one count of destruction of property for his alleged role in the three separate incidents.” [USA Today]

  • The Caps will take on the Islanders in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Game 1 is Wednesday at 3 p.m. [NHL.com] 

  • Nats put up 16 runs in their 16-4 win over the Mets. [Federal Baseball]

  • Several Maryland football players expressed their disappointment Tuesday afternoon to reports that the Big Ten will cancel its football season this fall. Hours later, the Detroit Free Press reported that the situation is reportedly still “fluid” and the season may not be canceled, after all. [247 Sports, Detroit Free Press]

CITY LIGHTS, byEmma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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