Children

[DebLou47]

I have heard that they cannot pass the virus on has anyone heard this ? I have to go back to work and I cannot get childcare (no spaces) and my parents want to look after my kids but I am worried

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01354-0

Scientists are still debating the role of children in the spread of the disease, and it cannot be ruled out

Children have been proven worldwide to be less likely to catch covid-19, and therefore are less likely to pass it on because they don't have it. There is a possible difference between under-10s and over-10s that under-10s may also be less likely to pass it on even if infected, which is not the case for over-10s, but there is insufficient fully validated evidence for the studies to be considered reliable. Your decision will depend how many cases are in your area, how vulnerable your parents are, whether you have the option to do it for a while but change plan later if cases rise etc.

Thank you my children are 2 and 5

@MRex

Children have been proven worldwide to be less likely to catch covid-19, and therefore are less likely to pass it on because they don't have it. There is a possible difference between under-10s and over-10s that under-10s may also be less likely to pass it on even if infected, which is not the case for over-10s, but there is insufficient fully validated evidence for the studies to be considered reliable. Your decision will depend how many cases are in your area, how vulnerable your parents are, whether you have the option to do it for a while but change plan later if cases rise etc.

Good summary.

With schools and childcare back across much of the world, evidence of children being superspreaders would have become apparent. It's much easier to prove what does happen than what doesn"t happen.