School-age children transmit coronavirus in homes more than adults

School districts across the United States face tough decisions about resuming classes in person this fall.

The nation’s daily coronavirus cases continue to rise, but the shift to remote learning has already hampered children’s progress and led to higher truancy rates, particularly among low-income students, who are more likely to be lacking. Internet access.

Many questions remain about infection and transmission rates among children, but a new study from South Korea found that school-aged children ages 10 to 19 are more likely to transmit the coronavirus to their household contacts than any other. age group.

The study was conducted from January 20 to March 27, when schools in South Korea closed. The researchers tracked the contacts of more than 5,700 coronavirus patients, including about 10,600 people living with an infected person and another 48,500 not.

On average, the results showed that 11.8% of people who shared a home with someone infected with the coronavirus also received COVID-19. That number increased to 18.6% in households with an infected person from 10 to 19. But only 5.3% of people who shared a home with someone 9 or younger became ill.

Research suggests that the reopening of schools could lead to even more widespread transmission. Bringing teens and tweens together in classrooms at a time when cases are on the rise could increase the chances that students will pass the virus on to each other and then bring it home, potentially infecting older members of the family who are more likely to develop severe cases.

Scientists still debate children’s role in pandemic

Children account for about 5% of confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S., the lowest of any age group, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But pediatric coronavirus cases can be difficult to trace, as they are often mild or asymptomatic.

It is not yet clear how often children can transmit the virus to others.

A June report from the Dutch government concluded that “children play a small role in the spread of the new coronavirus.” The conclusion was based on government data collected from 54 Dutch households.

A study of households in China, Singapore, the United States, Vietnam, and South Korea found that children have not been the leading source of domestic coronavirus infections. According to that research, which is still pending peer review, children were the first to develop symptoms in only three of the 31 households.

An investigation from New South Wales, Australia looked at the transmission of the coronavirus in 10 secondary schools and five primary schools there in March and April. The report found that only two students became ill from more than 860 who had been in close contact with an infected person. The research also found no evidence that students infect teachers.

But the CDC found that American children “likely play a role in the transmission and spread of COVID-19.” Scientists in Germany also found no difference in viral loads (the amount of viral particles released into the environment) in adult pediatric coronavirus patients.

Children are already known to transmit influenza viruses like H1N1 (swine flu) and H5N1 (avian flu) inside homes.

“Our large-scale research showed that the transmission pattern was similar to that of other respiratory viruses,” wrote the researchers behind the latest study from South Korea. “Although the detection rate of contacts for preschool-age children was lower, young children may show higher attack rates when school closes, which contributes to community transmission of COVID-19.”

School reopens could be decided on a case-by-case basis

Even if children play an important role in the transmission of the coronavirus, there are still reasons to reopen schools.

“As far as possible, our failure should be to try to get children back to school,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading US disease expert, said Thursday, during a conversation with the CEO. from Facebook Mark Zuckerberg. “The unwanted effects, the aftermath of keeping children out of school, can be profound.”

In addition to hindering children’s learning, remote education can force parents to adjust their work schedules and potentially lose household income. In an opinion letter published in May in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, two Italian pediatric doctors argued that closing schools can do more harm than good by “deepening social, economic and health inequalities.”

But Fauci added that the decision could be made on a case-by-case basis. Schools in areas with relatively low transmission can have in-person classes without risking people’s safety. But in areas with uncontrolled outbreaks, schools may need to remain closed.

Surveys in Wuhan and Shanghai found that when schools were open, children had roughly three times as many contacts, be it brief in-person conversations or physical interactions as a handshake, than adults. The researchers found that closing schools cut peak infections in those cities by up to 60%.

“Expanding school closure will likely support the overall effectiveness of social distancing and thus help reduce the peak of the epidemic curve,” researchers in South Korea wrote in March. “The policy must be balanced between the public health benefits and the important social consequences.”