White House counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway was pressed about President Donald Trumpâs recent claim suggesting children are âalmost immuneâ from coronavirus, as the host presented the latest statistics that prove otherwise.
During an appearance on Fox Newsâ âAmerican Newsroomâ Thursday, host Sandra Smith noted the ongoing debate, as he pointed to statistics showing confirmed cases in children under the age of 18 is currently 7.4%.
âI want to put up the latest CDC numbers on coronavirus cases in children under the age of 18,â Smith said to Conway.
She continued, âUnder 18 accounts for about 7.4% of confirmed cases. That is up 6.7% from 2 weeks ago and up nearly 6% from a month ago. So kids are getting this disease, Kellyanne.â
When asked about the statistics, Conway pivoted and opted to focus on the severity of the confirmed cases.
âYes, they are, and thankfully most never make it to a hospital and very few have died. Every death is a tragedy. Every single one, let me make very clear,â Conway responded. âBut those are national numbers and not every state or even county or school district is the same.â
See Conwayâs remarks below:
Conway was also asked if it is âhelpful for the president to tell parents that children are nearly immune from this and have it factually spreading child to child in places like Mississippi where theyâve opened their schools.â
The counselor to the president claimed the president typically relies on âthe New Jersey example information he got from Gov. Phil Murphyâ when making assertions about children and the coronavirus.
Referencing one child under 18 with underlying conditions that passed away in New Jersey, Conway said, âI think the president is making clear that overall the average age of those who passed from coronavirus is still at about 78. Over 40% of those who passed away were in longterm facilities or nursing homes.â
Not deterred, Smith noted Trumpâs claims on Wednesday during his âFox & Friendsâ interview when he insisted yet again that the virus âis going away.â Smith asked if the president is disregarding health expertsâ advice.
Despite the presidentâs claims about children, many school districts that have reopened are already feeling the impact of coronavirus as students and faculty members have already been placed on quarantine due to outbreaks.
