The coronavirus has triggered a 31-fold jump in cases of a serious but rare pediatric inflammatory disease, according to Italian and American studies that provide an ominous warning to other pandemic-affected nations about the risk to children.

A detailed analysis from Bergamo, the epicenter of the Italian Covid-19 outbreak, found 19 cases of a Kawasaki disease-like illness in children, adding to reports of about 200 similar cases from New York and England.

Gandalf, let them eat cake, right?