Florida and Texas are seeing more kids under 18 hospitalized with COVID-19 than any other state. Mask mandates in schools are banned.

Florida and Texas have had far more kids under 18 hospitalized with COVID-19 in the last week than any other state, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Both states have banned mask mandates in schools, contrary to CDC recommendations.

In Florida, a daily average of 54 kids under 18 were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 between August 1 and 9 — the most recent data available. That's up from 42 the week prior. In Texas, roughly 40 kids under 18 were hospitalized per day with COVID-19 during the same period — up from...