New Study Explores Risk Played By Children in COVID Spread
Few other issues are as hotly debated as school closures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
New data from Austria now provides further evidence of the risk posed by children.
The virus mutant B.1.1.7 could make the situation even worse.
schoolchildren are just as likely to get infected with the coronavirus as their teachers.
The only difference is that their infection usually remains undetected because they rarely show symptoms.
As such, the risk of infection from children is downplayed.
Wagner says it is likely that they are "significantly undertested,”
resulting in a correspondingly high number of unreported cases,
Among the schoolchildren, there was no difference among age groups:
Just as many primary school children were infected as were secondary school children.
That find contradicted the long-held belief that younger children would be largely spared from SARS-CoV-2 infections.
A girl with no cough or sneeze, a boy who doesn't even have a runny nose - unidentified virus spreaders.
schools mirror the rate of infections surrounding them.
The rate of undetected infections is twice as high in poorer districts than in wealthier ones.
the new virus mutant, called B.1.1.7, ...
The tough contact restrictions and social distancing rules that helped drive the infection rate of the original virus down by a third have
failed completely this time around, with the incidence rate having tripled.
B.1.1.7 also seems to spread more easily among children and adolescents.
the evidence is clear. "It's clear from evidence across the globe and within the UK that schools have contributed significantly to community transmission,"
numerous studies showing the extent to which school closures slowed the spread of the pandemic.
In the U.S., for example, closures reduced the number of cases and mortality by up to 60 percent.
two- to 12-year-olds were twice as likely to be infected as adults.
Their older siblings (up to age 16) are seven times more likely to be infected.
https://www.spiegel.de/international...0-13751aa3ce09