With anxieties high due to the spread of coronavirus, we can’t help but to wonder how to keep our little ones safe from this virus. How cautious do we need to be? How does coronavirus affect children? Although the pandemic has already taken many lives across the globe, there is a silver lining. So far (as of March 2020), it appears that children are not at high risk for COVID-19. Although kids can catch the virus, adults make up the vast majority of cases to date. Here are some other things you should know about COVID-19’s impact on children.
Do children get the same COVID-19 symptoms as adults?
How does coronavirus affect children? Kids have the same symptoms of COVID-19 as adults, which include fever, cough, runny nose, cold-like symptoms, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, these symptoms tend to present as much milder in children. Because there is still much to learn about COVID-19 and children, parents should still take preventative measures and monitor children closely.
How can I protect my child from getting infected with COVID-19?
Although children are at a low risk of dying from COVID-19, you want to prevent your child from spreading it to others. Here are some tips:
- Keep your child away from crowded places as much as possible.
- Teach them to wash their hands often after leaving a public place. Wash with soap and water for about 20 seconds.
- Avoid people who are sick (coughing and sneezing).
- Avoid high-touch areas like playgrounds.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces throughout the day (knobs, toilet seats, toys, countertops, handles, etc.)
- Wash the dirty laundry of sick people with hot water and wash your hands after touching the dirty clothes.
Additional information on how COVID-19 is spread is available through the CDC website.
Should I be tested for coronavirus? Read Hospitality Health ER’s blog here. You can also access hundreds of healthcare and parenting blog posts here.
