Home coronavirus infection rates are highest among patients 10 to 19 years old, according to a study by South Korean researchers published in the medical journal. Emerging infectious diseases from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The study followed nearly 6,000 patients diagnosed with the new coronavirus between the months of January and March, when schools in South Korea closed entirely, causing a significant number of people to become infected at home. These findings correspond to data recently published by the Ministry of Health, that more than 60% of infections in Israel occurred in the home and not in public spaces as some expected. Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said The New York Times that South Korea’s research is “one of the best studies done so far on this topic.” The study found that youth in the 10-19 year age group were in most cases the first family members to present with coronavirus symptoms. But perhaps the most interesting finding is that when they did present symptoms, almost 19% of all people who came in contact with them became infected, more than any other age group included in the study. Children age nine and younger were the least likely age group to infect others within the home, infecting only 5.3% of all people who came in contact with them. “The implementation of public health recommendations, including hand and respiratory hygiene, should be encouraged to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission within affected households,” the investigation concluded. “The effects of domestic coronavirus infections, in light of the reopening of schools and the ease of social distancing restrictions, emphasize the need for epidemiological research that will help guide public health policy,” added the Korean researchers. . Considering the latest developments in Israel regarding the coronavirus pandemic, it seems unlikely that Israelis will return to their normal lives any time soon. Since everyone stays at home for longer periods of time, this study plays an important role in shedding light on the best ways for the population to avoid unnecessary risks and stay healthy.
