Children are a “significant source” of the spread of COVID-19 in households, with about 50 percent of household members being infected by people who became infected for the first time, according to a new study from CHEO. According to the study, entitled Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at Home by Unvaccinated Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Households with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection, released on Tuesday, April 12, although children were less likely to transmit the virus compared to adults, children and adults were equally likely to be infected by the first person being infected.
The data
The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, included 695 participants from 180 households in Ottawa between September 2020 and March 2021. The households also included at least one member who had a confirmed COVID-19 infection, with each participating household registered. at least one child in their household. “Our study was conducted when we were dealing with a less contagious virus and the restrictions on the pandemic were in place, and we still had 50 [per cent] “In-house transmission rates,” said Dr. Maala Bhatt, pediatric emergency physician and director of emergency medical research at CHEO and a researcher at the CHEO Research Institute, in a statement. “Go to where we are today with an extremely contagious variant of COVID-19 and most of the pandemic restrictions that have been lifted. It is safe to say that transmission rates will be higher, even though we have a high vaccination rate among those who qualify. . “ The viral signals of COVID-19 wastewater in Ottawa are at record levels, CHEO adds. And in recent weeks, the number of positive imports for COVID-19 in CHEO is approaching the levels observed in January and early February. “I know many people want to ‘live with COVID’ and abandon the previously imposed levels of protection, but it is important to be aware of the high transmissibility of this virus in closed, indoor environments such as schools,” said Bhatt. responsible for the study. said the lead author. “Our most vulnerable and young children who are not yet able to be vaccinated are still at risk of being infected with COVID.” Three-quarters of all children admitted to CHEO with COVID have come during the Omicron wave, the hospital says. And as of early January, one in three of the approximately 4,900 monthly visits to the emergency department were for symptoms related to the virus. The study further suggested that children would act as “an even greater source of spread within households with the emergence of more infectious variants.” Children also have a “significant potential to spread” in places such as school and daycare, where they gather indoors for long periods, especially now that the mask is not required in many jurisdictions. “While we are fortunate that hospitals are not currently overcrowded, emergency departments are and positivity rates are rising, even among children,” Bhatt explained. “We are still learning more about COVID-19 and its potential long-term health effects, and we are still unclear about how long immunity lasts. These are all things that researchers continue to study. As the significant transmission of COVID-19 continues within households and throughout the community, it is important to continue to do what you can to protect yourself and those around you – to mask while indoors, to wash. your hands, to be vaccinated with all the doses you are entitled to. stay home if you are sick and limit close contact. ”
Where the children stand in Ottawa
On Wednesday, April 13, the Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported 90 active cases of COVID in children aged 0 to 9 years and 117 active cases in the age group 10 to 19 years. In the last seven days, OPH says 62 cases in the city involved children aged 0 to 9, while 74 involved children aged 10 to 19. Meanwhile, cumulatively, 32 children aged 0 to 9 have been hospitalized, while there were 25 between 10 and 19 years old. However, no deaths have been reported in any age group throughout the pandemic.
