Separate and Unequal: The Cost of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Childhood Health and Well-Being

The coronavirus disease 2019 has and will have an untoward effect on children. In this perspective we summarize the short- and long-term impact of the pandemic on childhood social and physical health. School closure has resulted in an absence of educational opportunity, alongside deprivations of social structure, essential food, and adult guidance, as well as augmented deprivation for the neediest students. The loss of educational attainment will have long-term effects on social mobility, employment and income, and health outcomes. We advocate for transdisciplinary approaches and outline priorities to address the pandemic's impact on schools, literacy, and childhood welfare.