The New York Times (10/7, Victor) reports, “Over a 15-month period of the pandemic, more than 120,000 children in the United States had a parent or caregiver die from Covid-19, a loss that more severely affected racial minorities, according to a modeling study.” Researchers “estimated that for every four Covid-19 deaths between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, one child lost a parent or caregiver.” Additionally, “22,007 lost a secondary caregiver, or a grandparent providing housing but not most basic needs, the study projected.” The findings were published in the journal Pediatrics on Thursday.
The Washington Post (10/7, Cha) reports, “Losing a parent or other primary caregiver is one of the most stressful things that can happen in a child’s life – putting them at risk of a trajectory of depression and post-traumatic stress, as well as physical manifestations of grief, such as heart problems.” The estimated “numbers take into account both official covid deaths and deaths from other causes, such as homicides and drug overdoses, beyond those expected in a typical year without the pandemic.” According to the Post, “The data reveals vast disparities by race and ethnicity – even more skewed toward an overrepresentation of minority communities than covid deaths.”
Among other sources covering the story is HealthDay (10/7, Preidt).
Related Links:
— “Over 120,000 American Children Have Lost a Parent or Caregiver to Covid-19, Study Says “Daniel Victor, The New York Times, October 7, 2021