After preying heavily on the elderly in the spring, the coronavirus is increasingly infecting American children and teens in a trend authorities say appears fueled by school reopenings and the resumption of sports, playdates and other activities.

Children of all ages now make up 10 per cent of all US cases, up from 2pc in April, the American Academy of Pediatrics has reported. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the incidence of Covid-19 in school-age children began rising in early September as many youngsters returned to their classrooms.

According to AP, the CDC report said that about two times more teens were infected than younger children. Most infected children have mild cases; hospitalisations and death rates are much lower than in adults.