According to a study published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health medical journal, over five million children around the world have lost a parent to Covid-19.
A study found that more than 5 million children lost parents or caregivers.
The estimate is based on mortality data from 20 countries from March 2020 to October 2021.
Estimates of the number of children affected by the death of a parent nearly doubled in the six months from May 2021 to October 2021, compared to the first 14 months of the Pandemic.
The data from recent months may push the true toll even higher.
Almost half a million children were orphans by Covid, and nearly 740,000 children were 5-9 years old.
The study found that three out of four children lost a parent to Covid during the Pandemic, which is in line with a trend towards later fatherhood and an increased risk of Covid-19 in older people.
The researchers said children who have lost a parent are at greater risk of poverty, exploitation, abuse, HIV infection, mental health issues and leaving school to care for younger siblings and urged governments to ensure children are considered in pandemic response efforts.
200,500. The group estimates how many U.S. children have lost a parent to Covid-19.
The death toll of Covid-19 was compared to that of HIV/AIDS, which has left millions orphans around the world. Sherr said that Covid-19 orphaned the same number of children as HIV/AIDS did in just two years. The author of the study said that the global health community should offer the same support to children who have lost parents due to Covid-19 as it did to vulnerable children through the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We can't afford hesitation.
The number of children that were orphans by Covid-19. The analysis is based on modeling and the best available data, but it can't measure the actual number of children affected by Covid-19 and many countries don't have robust reporting systems for births or deaths.
In a linked comment, the University of Texas' Dr. Michael Goodman described the modeling as "heart-wrenching and unavoidably incomplete."
Parents separated from baby in Hong Kong.
Up to 5 million children have lost their parents during the Pandemic. Here's how they've done it.
Live updates on the coronaviruses.
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