TAMPA, Fla. — While the positivity rate for pediatric COVID cases surges across the nation, most cases in the Bay area are not leading to any hospitalizations.

As of late last week, BayCare and AdventHealth said they have had no children admitted to local hospitals with severe COVID symptoms.

Both hospital networks say although they are seeing a spike in the positivity rate among children, all of them have been quickly discharged showing only minor or no symptoms at all.

Every state is tracking pediatric COVID cases differently.

Most hospitals are now testing all children at hospitals for COVID. 

Some states are considering any child that tests positive as a COVID patient, even if they arrive at the hospital for another reason.

Some states are also combining confirmed positive tests with what they call "probable cases."

However, experts say the omicron variant of COVID has many symptoms that mirror that of a cold or flu, and knowing the difference without a positive test result is challenging.

"We understand most kids who get infected are doing very well," said Dr. Stanley Spinner, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Texas Children's Pediatrics and Texas Children's Urgent Care. "But you don't want to be the parent whose child doesn't do well and ends up in the hospital."

As students prepare to return to school in the Tampa area on Tuesday, the spike in cases is leading to questions about how local school districts will respond to the increase in the positivity rate.

The National Education Association over the weekend pushed for schools to stay open.

"We can keep our students safe and we can keep them in-person together learning," said NEA President Becky Pringle.

There has been no talk in local school districts about restrictions as students return to school.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has blocked local districts from closing schools and has also blocked districts from mandating masks for students.

Although, students can choose to wear a mask if they want to.