The number of kids being treated for COVID-19 in Ohio’s six children’s hospitals has increased seven-fold over the past three weeks.

The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association reported on Tuesday that there was a total of 70 children hospitalized for coronavirus. That compares to fewer than ten pediatric hospitalizations three weeks ago.

The association’s members include Akron Children's Hospital, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Dayton Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's, Russel J. Ebeid Children's Hospital in Toledo, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.

Just last week Chief Medical Officer for Akron Children's Hospital, Dr. Rob McGregor reported the 5th highest number of patients positive since the pandemic started."

Saying that the Delta variant seems to get children sicker more quickly, Dr. McGregor cited factors such as children are going back to school, maskless in many cases, and there are more cases of other viruses out there like RSV, hitting children earlier in the season than normal