"Researchers now estimate that more than 40,000 children in the United States have lost a parent to Covid-19," says this article from Vox.

"During the pandemic, video chats replaced in-person visits between parents and their children placed in foster care" says this article from the Marshall Project. "The effects could linger for years."

According to this article from BBC News, campaign groups in the UK have called attention to the lack of available face-to-face contact for children with parents who are incarcerated, which they say is "crucial in maintaining the relationship between imprisoned parents and children."

"Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, has responded to concerns that young children are being separated from their parents in quarantine centres as the city seeks to control its latest Covid-19 outbreak," says this article from the Guardian.

"Advocates for youth in government care are calling on the provinces and territories to continue supporting those who are aging out of the child welfare system and trying to make it on their own during the pandemic," says this article by the Canadian Press.

"One-third of foster carers have said that a lack of structure for their foster children during the Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenge, according to a new survey," says this article from the Irish Times.

This article from the Conversation puts a spotlight on the situation of young people aging out of the child welfare system in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A so far unknown number of children have been orphaned since the virus began killing their parents -- and so many others -- last year," says this article from ABC News. "Often, the responsibility to keep the family together has been placed on the eldest siblings."

"The outbreak of the pandemic in March had brought the adoption process to a standstill for several reasons – lack of information, closure of courts and fear of contracting the infection," says this article from the Hindustan Times.

"A disturbing trend has led to a plea from doctors across [Canada] as more babies and children are being treated with serious trauma, fractures and in some cases, malnutrition," says this article from Global News.