Last updated August 22, 2021
Throughout the past 18 months, the evidence has been accumulating regarding the impact of COVID-19 on children.
Policy decisions about school mitigation strategies are unnecessarily controversial as mitigation policies have been heavily influenced by political ideology or lack of political will to acknowledge potential risks to children.
Here we provide a list of updated information from credible sources to help inform the public on the importance of protecting schools, students, and communities-at-large.
Policy decisions about school mitigation strategies are unnecessarily controversial as mitigation policies have been heavily influenced by political ideology or lack of political will to acknowledge potential risks to children.
Here we provide a list of updated information from credible sources to help inform the public on the importance of protecting schools, students, and communities-at-large.
1. Children can contract COVID-19
COVID-19 is a severe respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. While early on in the pandemic, children often presented as asymptomatic, and generally showed milder presentations of the illness, there are some occasions where children became severely ill. Long-term lingering symptoms have also been reported in children (commonly referred to as long-COVID) such as headache, fatigue and heart palpitations. There are still many unknowns as the longitudinal studies are still being conducted. More acutely, multi-inflammatory syndrome has also been reported in children who contracted COVID-19.
COVID-19 is a severe respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. While early on in the pandemic, children often presented as asymptomatic, and generally showed milder presentations of the illness, there are some occasions where children became severely ill. Long-term lingering symptoms have also been reported in children (commonly referred to as long-COVID) such as headache, fatigue and heart palpitations. There are still many unknowns as the longitudinal studies are still being conducted. More acutely, multi-inflammatory syndrome has also been reported in children who contracted COVID-19.
2. Delta variant more transmissible and increasing pediatric hospitalization in USA
The Delta variant of the coronavirus has been shown to be more easily spread, and currently dominating positive cases in the United States. Pediatric hospitalization is increasing in many states and children are becoming severely ill in larger numbers at this point in the pandemic. Doctors are calling for expedited vaccine approval for children under 12 as a result of this steep climb of hospitalizations.
The Delta variant of the coronavirus has been shown to be more easily spread, and currently dominating positive cases in the United States. Pediatric hospitalization is increasing in many states and children are becoming severely ill in larger numbers at this point in the pandemic. Doctors are calling for expedited vaccine approval for children under 12 as a result of this steep climb of hospitalizations.
3. Masking works
Peer-reviewed studies have shown that masks can prevent transmission of respiratory illnesses, not just restricted to COVID-19 but also other human coronaviruses, influenza viruses and rhinoviruses. There is also evidence that shows cloth masks can provide substantial protection against aerosol particles. Studies have also shown that three-layer cloth masks are just as effective at filtration as surgical masks.
Peer-reviewed studies have shown that masks can prevent transmission of respiratory illnesses, not just restricted to COVID-19 but also other human coronaviruses, influenza viruses and rhinoviruses. There is also evidence that shows cloth masks can provide substantial protection against aerosol particles. Studies have also shown that three-layer cloth masks are just as effective at filtration as surgical masks.
4. COVID-19 is airborne
Although it was widely lauded that COVID-19 was mainly spread by respiratory droplets, it is not widely recognized that the particles can be so small as to be aerosolized (or airborne), and carried large distances (akin to cigarette smoke). The previous iterations of physical distancing are not insufficient by itself and ventilation and air filtration need to be examined to mitigate airborne transmission in closed, indoor spaces like classrooms. There is evidence that surface transmission through fomites is not a significant path of transmission (too much emphasis on cleaning surfaces).
Although it was widely lauded that COVID-19 was mainly spread by respiratory droplets, it is not widely recognized that the particles can be so small as to be aerosolized (or airborne), and carried large distances (akin to cigarette smoke). The previous iterations of physical distancing are not insufficient by itself and ventilation and air filtration need to be examined to mitigate airborne transmission in closed, indoor spaces like classrooms. There is evidence that surface transmission through fomites is not a significant path of transmission (too much emphasis on cleaning surfaces).
5. Transmission can happen in schools
Systematic studies are now available which show that outbreaks in schools did occur more frequently when community cases were high. School closures, in many instances, were followed by declines in community caseloads. Schools are embedded into communities and multi-layered protective approaches are important to maintain in-person learning. The Delta variant, more transmissible strain of the SARS-CoV2, is novel and data is not sufficient to understand the impact of Delta on schools staying open.
Systematic studies are now available which show that outbreaks in schools did occur more frequently when community cases were high. School closures, in many instances, were followed by declines in community caseloads. Schools are embedded into communities and multi-layered protective approaches are important to maintain in-person learning. The Delta variant, more transmissible strain of the SARS-CoV2, is novel and data is not sufficient to understand the impact of Delta on schools staying open.