Detected in at least 23 countries and found in wastewater across 25 U.S. states .
The phrase "over half a million U.S. kids infected" refers to a significant early-pandemic milestone reached in . At that time, a joint report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children’s Hospital Association confirmed that 513,415 children had tested positive since the pandemic began. By comparison, as the pandemic progressed: More Than Half a Million U.S. Kids Have Had Coronavirus Over Half a Million U.S. Kids Infected With COVID
In the last week of April 2026, children represented approximately 22.4% of new COVID-19 cases , accounting for over 71,000 infections in that period alone. Historical Context: The Half-Million Milestone Detected in at least 23 countries and found