Despite the cloud cast by Covid-19 over the year 2020, many nations across the globe have seen lower mortality rates among children. The Human Mortality Database, which collects information on 38 countries, reported an unsurprising surge in what it terms "excess mortality" (deaths beyond a baseline normal) for most countries during the peak times of the pandemic. The rate for children under age 15, however, was significantly lower than in previous years. Though this reflects a continuation of a long-term trend, it seems counterintuitive, given the impact the pandemic has had on the population as a whole. Experts have proposed a few possible explanations, including the fact that lockdowns and other restrictions, such as distance learning, have kept children at home and therefore at lower risk for injuries or exposure to disease. Another factor is the relatively strong immune response children have shown to the virus. In the U.S., for example, of 26,000 child deaths from all causes, less than 0.5 percent, or just over 100, were caused by Covid-19.

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