By Anthony Mugo
Most studies carried out so far indicate that majority of children who get infected with the coronavirus do not show any symptoms, while those who get sick only have mild disease. With schools having begun phased reopening in Kenya, it is important that information about chances of more children getting infected and the possibility of infected children passing the virus to others in their households be made available.
A landmark study carried out in India in September 2020 showed that while children can spread the coronavirus, those under the age of 15 mainly spread it among their own age group. The age group most responsible for secondarily spreading of the coronavirus are people aged between 22 and 44 years. The study analysed results of nearly 500,000 people from the Indian sates of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The researchers, from New Delhi’s Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economic and Policy and US-based Princeton University noted: “Children and elderly may be good at spreading the coronavirus among their age groups but young adults are the primary source of community spread or “super spreaders.”
Given that children have generally been found to escape the serious disease impact seen among the elderly and adults with pre-existing conditions, there are fears that chances of children catching the virus will increase now that schools are opening. Concern is that the children might infect adults in their households who are more vulnerable towards developing serious Covid-19 disease or even dying from it.
According to UNICEF, children have fared worse from measures that have been put in place to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic than from the disease itself. Those from poor households and informal settlements have become more vulnerable to violence and sexual exploitation.
Many children have missed needed vaccination against other ailments, exposing them to life threatening illness while those who receive school meals have had to make do without them and therefore been exposed to malnutrition. Some 1.6 million children in Kenya rely on school meals.
“We know that the longer children are out of school, the greater the risk of the poorest among them will never return. They may be sent off to work, married off too early, or face other risks that can curb their development and well-being,” noted Maniza Zaman UNICEF Representative to Kenya in early October, following the decision by the Ministry of Health to commence phased opening of schools. “As children return to school, we all need to come together to ensure that this transition is smooth to the learners, teachers and the wider community.”
For now, fears that children are super spreaders of the coronavirus seem to be misplaced. However, since schools in many countries have only recently been opened, more research may be required to determine whether children are significant secondary spreaders of the coronavirus. For now, schools need to remain vigilant about their enforcement of protocols recommended by health and other authorities: properly wearing masks throughout the day while at school; keeping social distance; and frequently washing hands with soap under running water.
