97,000 US children tested positive for COVID-19 in the second half of July - weeks before schools & universities reopen. 

The figures, taken from the American Academy of Pediatrics from July 16 to 30, come as the country tops 5 million cases - 338,000 of which are children - & over 162,000 deaths.

As some schools re-open for face-to-face classes this month, Dr Tina Hartert, of Vanderbilt University, said increased testing of kids is key to understanding their role in transmitting the killer bug.

The doctor is leading a Govt-funded study which has seen 2,000 families receive DIY testing kits. 

Dr Tina Harter told the news agency that "The kits are shipped to the families, they are taught how to collect these samples, & then the samples are sent back by the families to a central repository".

It was initially believed children were less susceptible to the virus - however, at least 25 kids have died in the US in July from Coronavirus.

It's left teachers & school bosses desperately looking for solutions on how to follow restrictions while educating pupils. 

Some universities are also grappling with safely reopening campuses, with new restrictions including banning parties, road trips & outside visitors.

A photo at North Paulding High School, Georgia, where schools have already re-opened, went viral last week showing students not wearing masks.

It comes after FB deleted a post by US President Donald Trump for the first time after he shared a clip in which he alleged children are "almost immune".  

The social media platform deemed this a violation of its rules against sharing misinformation about the COVID-19.

The clip came from an interview with Fox & Friends earlier that day.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has said that while adults make up most of the known Covid-19 cases to date, some children & infants have been sick with the disease & they can also transmit it to others.

During a briefing at the White House on the same day, President Trump repeated his claim that the coronavirus had little impact on children.

Mr Trump told reporters that "Children handle it very well".

"If you look at the numbers, in terms of mortality, fatalities ... for children under a certain age ... their immune systems are very very strong & very powerful. 

"They seem to be able to handle it very well & that's according to every statistical claim."

Boris Johnson, meanwhile, is facing widespread calls to boost COVID-19 testing & tracing in order to safely reopen schools to all pupils without imposing further restrictions on businesses or social lives.

The PM said it is the "national priority" to get children back in class in England next month, but he has been warned by scientific advisers that "trade-offs" may be necessary to keep transmission down.  

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