The large study found that home transmission of the coronavirus “was high” for patients between 10 and 19 years of age.
As U.S. school officials continue to debate whether to reopen schools in the fall, a new study in South Korea found that children ages 10-19 can transmit the new coronavirus as much as.
The large study, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports that home transmission of the coronavirus “was high” for patients ages 10-19. Home transmission rates were lower for patients 0 to 9 years old.
To reach their conclusions, the researchers analyzed reports of 59,073 contacts of 5,706 coronavirus patients in South Korea between January 20 and March 27.
The study “is done very carefully, is systematic, and looks at a very large population,” Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told the New York Times. “It is one of the best studies we have had to date on this topic.”
The results come as school officials across the country are weighing whether or not to reopen schools for the upcoming academic year. Some areas, including the state of Florida, have already pledged to reopen, while Los Angeles and San Diego counties have announced that all education will be virtual in the fall.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump threatened to cut federal funds for schools not reopening for on-campus learning, which he urged along with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Trump’s push runs counter to CDC recommendations, and Vice President Mike Pence said earlier this month that CDC will issue a new guide on reopening schools, with “more clarity,” which aligns with the management position. But he said the choice would eventually be made locally.
The South Korean study said the researchers’ findings regarding coronavirus transmission amid school reopens “underscore the need for an urgent epidemiological study to guide public health policies.”
“Tracking contacts is especially important in light of future SARS-CoV-2 waves, for which social distancing and personal hygiene will continue to be the most viable options for prevention,” the study said. “Understanding the role of hygiene and infection control measures is critical to reducing the spread of the home, and the role of masking within the home, especially if a family member is at high risk, needs to be studied.”
I am afraid there has been a feeling that children simply will not be infected or will not be infected in the same way as and that they are therefore almost like a bubbling population, “Michael Osterholm, an expert in infectious diseases. The University of Minnesota told The New York Times, warning that if schools reopen the coronavirus will spread.
“There will be the transmission,” he added. “What we have to do is accept that now and include it in our plans.”
The information in this story is accurate at the time of publication. However, as the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, some data may have changed since its publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities using CDC, WHO, and your local department of public health as resources.
