Deaths of people under age 21

Just as in older adults, children and teens from minority groups are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus, according to the findings of a new CDC report.

Children from ethnic and racial minorities, those with underlying health conditions, and those between the ages of 18 and 20 are more likely to die, a CDC-led research team wrote in a study published last week in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

These deaths among children and young adults are unthinkably tragic, and the data show they’re rare. From mid-February to the end of July, 121 deaths were reported in those under 21. While people under 21 make up 26% of the US population, they make up only 8% of all reported cases in that time period.

The report also showed that underlying conditions played a role in the deaths of those under 21, giving us a sense of who may be at higher risk. It found 75% of those young people who died had at least one underlying condition, and 45% had two or more. The most frequent health conditions were chronic lung disease, including asthma; obesity; neurological and developmental conditions; and cardiovascular conditions.