More Than 140,000 US Children Had Parents, Grandparents Die During Pandemic: Study

A funeral director arranges flowers on a casket before a service in Tampa, Fla., on Sept. 2, 2021. Chris O'Meara/AP Photo

More than 140,000 children in the United States have experienced the loss of a parent or a grandparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to newly published research.

Researchers reviewed fertility data, death rates, and information on household composition for the study. They estimated that between April 1, 2020, and June 30, more than 140,000 children lost a parent, a custodial grandparent, or a grandparent who lived with them.