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Covid

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Original poster

If the risk to children is so low...

47 replies

SistemaAddict · 05/06/2020 12:00

...why are they still not allowed to play together?
My neighbours are playing outside with another household today. It's nice to see them having fun but neither parents or the children are social distancing.
I keep reading thread after thread where posters say that the risk to children is tiny and yes, they have been less affected but we don't know how many children have passed it on but remained asymptomatic.
If the risk is really so low regarding children then why are schools still closed to most and why aren't they allowed to play together? Am I missing something?

OP posts:

wendz86 · 05/06/2020 12:03

Isn’t the risk more that they could be carriers so carry it to parents etc .

Lastnamechanger · 05/06/2020 12:04

Children would then spread it within the household and to anyone else they were in contact with. Children and notorious for passing along germs.

nether · 05/06/2020 12:07

Because the evidence does not rule out the transmission of the disease between the asymptomatic. And from them to the rest of their household.

The household is being treated as the basic unit of infectivity, and households are not to mix freely. It has happened for essential workers all along, and is gradually being increased with the reopening of non-essential businesses. It will shortly expand further with increases in who can attend school.

By the time we have seen what, if any effect those two relaxations have (2-3 weeks after they happen) more may follow.

If you are bending the rules on who you choose to mix with, please ensure, whether symptomatic or not, younand your DC keep at least the full 2m away from everyone else

Lindy2 · 05/06/2020 12:12

Because children spread germs and are notoriously unhygienic - no matter how much their parents or carers may try.

People like your neighbours are exactly the reason why I can not open my childminding business again. I have seen similar photos on Facebook of some of the children I used to child mind. Ifvzi cannot trust their families to take care then they can not come into my home. Unfortunatelyif the children you are seeing play are primary school aged they will soon be increasing the risks for everyone they will attend school with.

Original poster

SistemaAddict · 05/06/2020 12:16

Exactly as I thought so why are so many posters allowing their children to play together? I understand it must be awful so children without siblings and my 3 are lucky to have each other (although you wouldn't think they are if the squabbling is anything to go by).

Staying socially distanced in the park is doable I would have thought depending on their ages but people are sharing paddling pools and play equipment and I can't get my head round it.

Don't worry pp, I'm shielded and not mixing with anyone.

OP posts:

LilyPond2 · 05/06/2020 12:18

Am I missing something? Yes, you certainly are! A child with a mild case can still infect others including adults who may die or suffer long-term health problems as a result.

Epigram · 05/06/2020 12:21

There is definitely evidence that the risk of death is extremely low for children if they catch the virus - everyone agrees on that.

There is also some research showing that children are less likely than adults to spread the virus, but this isn't completely certain.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52003804

Basically the advice remains in place "just in case". But several people are making their own risk assessments and deciding it's OK.

cabbageking · 05/06/2020 12:27

Children pose a high risk of transmitting the disease to others.

Epigram · 05/06/2020 12:30

cabbageking That's not correct. See the link I posted above, which includes the statement:

A review of the evidence by a global team of researchers concluded: "The role of children in transmission is unclear, but consistent evidence is demonstrating a lower likelihood of acquiring infection, and lower rates of children bringing infections into households."

However, while the risk may not be high, it obviously isn't zero either.

Delatron · 05/06/2020 12:41

Yes new evidence out as quoted that they are less likely to get the infection and pass it on. So it really is a ‘just in case, we don’t really know for sure’ situation.

Other countries have acknowledged children are lower risk in this way and have been allowing children to play in bubbles of 5-10 whilst the adults social distance (Switzerland) even during lockdown. But they had a much greater handle on the disease I guess.

Lindy2 · 05/06/2020 12:43

Basically the advice remains in place "just in case". But several people are making their own risk assessments and deciding it's OK.

But then sadly their risk assessment (or lack of) is then imposed on anyone else their children then mixes with at school or childcare. Those other children and their families don't have a say in it and won't even know that someone else has just increased their risk of catching Coronavirus just because they decided their child playing was more important than other people's health.

Deelish75 · 05/06/2020 12:44

I think if the government say that children can play together I think it will encourage large groups of adults and children to get together (I’ve seen this a lot in the local park since mid May) and then on days like today (raining) it might encourage people who aren’t from the same household all indoors.

I know some children have gone back to school but it’s in a very controlled manor - the bubble. Children are only interacting and potentially spreading it with their bubble children and teacher. So when kids play with other kids from outside their bubble they could get infected and take back into their bubble.

VeganVeal · 05/06/2020 12:53

Plus if children do go out and play together they will undoubtedly make lots of noise and annoy people, especially as lots are still working from home.

TheDailyCarbuncle · 05/06/2020 12:54

The risk of shutting children away without the stimulation and interaction of being with other children is far greater than the risk of covid. So some people are choosing to reduce the known risk and carry on living their lives rather than existing in fear.

SnowWhite33 · 05/06/2020 12:55

I'm in the Netherlands and here children under 12 have long been allowed to play together without keeping distance. The parents, on the other hand, have to maintain distance.

Bluebell1995 · 05/06/2020 12:58

I have a y6 who isn't going back to school as they can't fit the year in.
So I'm allowing him to play out with one friend at a time.

I asked him to socially distance, he understands, I don't know if he will. But if he'd have gone back this week like many other primary children then he'd have been mixing in a bubble anyway.

TheDailyCarbuncle · 05/06/2020 12:58

@VeganVeal

Plus if children do go out and play together they will undoubtedly make lots of noise and annoy people, especially as lots are still working from home.

I really can't believe I've read this. Are you seriously saying that children can't go to school, can't see their grandparents, can't interact with friends and that you also object to them just going out and playing??? What are they supposed to do? Just sit at home all day every day?

Alyssum34456 · 05/06/2020 12:59

Because face masks are also useless and shouldn't be used, but now they must be used on public transport and the doctor's unit wants them to be made essential whenever outside.

They really dont know op. Just because something isn't proven yet, doesn't mean it won't be...

Flippetydip · 05/06/2020 13:00

I would imagine it's because their parents have made the decision that the benefit to their mental health far outweighs the risk of Covid to them or anyone else.

Bol87 · 05/06/2020 13:03

Honestly, my extended circle of friends with children have all been extremely cautious & rule following so far but I now don’t know anyone who is enforcing social distancing between their children. Admittedly, most are 3 years old & under, so it’s really hard.

I’m really flipping cross at how children have been handled in all this given the risk to them is so low. They never get mentioned except in the context of childcare & everything they might like doing is closed. Parks, zoos, softplay, swimming pools.. but it’s fine for Primark to open 😡

I’m a big rule follower but I deem the risk to my child’s mental health worse than corona quite frankly. She is now going to nursery 3 days a week and mixing with different children every one of those days! For example, my daughter attends Mon, Tues & Thurs. Her two best nursery pals, one attends Mon, Wed & Thurs and the other Mon, Thurs & Fri.. so even though my daughter isn’t attending on Wed or Fri, the two she plays most with are.. so the possible germs are going between loadsa kids! Not just the days she’s in!

MRex · 05/06/2020 13:07

It benefits children to have a playmate. You might find those kids are in the same bubble at school, so it's the same risk. Or maybe none of the adults nor children go out otherwise, so they're taking a calculated risk. We've been debating it a lot because DS would love to play with someone, a few weeks is fine but it's been 3 months now!

bunnyplops · 05/06/2020 13:11

Plus if children do go out and play together they will undoubtedly make lots of noise and annoy people, especially as lots are still working from home.

Wow. Absolutely vile comment.

It's sad to see that so many don't give a fuck about what the long term affects are on children. Most of which are extremely confused and distressed, their whole worlds have been turned upside down and yet many (age dependent) aren't able to even understand why.

VeganVeal · 05/06/2020 13:20

I didnt say anything about not going to school, I'd prefer it if they did. I just don't like them screaming and shouting outside near houses. Would suggest they go somewhere that they cant annoy other people, and just because people think their children are little angel's and should be free to express themselves, doesn't mean others have to listen to the noise

Original poster

SistemaAddict · 05/06/2020 13:23

I have explained to my children that people are working from home and that they need to be respectful of neighbours in terms of noise and won't tolerate any screaming and shouting anyway. One neighbour has commented that it's nice to hear them playing in the garden and having fun. Any screaming or shouting and they are back inside.

OP posts:

Nihiloxica · 05/06/2020 13:28

What are they supposed to do? Just sit at home all day every day?

Um no, they should be chained up and gagged.

FGS what kind of parent are you?

Children are not capable of sitting still silently for hours.

We have to "help" them for the good of society.

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