I completely and very strongly agree with this:
But the damage caused to young children by attempting to force them into engaging in social distancing needs to be considered.
I do feel that, in attempting to mitigate against small risks, we are in danger of causing much bigger problems in society, and this is just one example of that. We need to be pragmatic, consider the big picture and strike a balance.
While it is not proven that younger children cannot pass on the virus, there are no recorded cases of a child under 10 transmitting the disease to an adult, so even if it is possible, the risks of this appear to be miniscule.My honest opinion in all of this is that they need to forget about social distancing for the younger children. Older juniors and adults in the school setting yes, younger ones no. Nurseries aren’t socially distancing with the kids at the moment and nothing much is Happening because of it. My middle son is 5 and this is the longest him and his best friend have ever been apart in 4 years - in fact she said tonight the first thing she’s going to do when she sees him is hug him. I thought I’d be dancing from the rooftops at the thought of him going back (although his 8 year old brother isn’t just yet) but I’m not. I feel sick. My partner has been working throughout all of this (non keyworker role...online retail and as they’re open it was never an option or a thought for him to stay off). The country has got to get going, I need to see my mum. I’m a socially challenged person who spends a lot of time on my own (all my time in fact since my best friend passed away last year) but that’s my choice, it’s that Choice that’s been taken away. We need to strike a happy medium between normality and the virus.
But the damage caused to young children by attempting to force them into engaging in social distancing needs to be considered.
I do feel that, in attempting to mitigate against small risks, we are in danger of causing much bigger problems in society, and this is just one example of that. We need to be pragmatic, consider the big picture and strike a balance.
Children unlikely to transmit coronavirus, says study cited in PM's push to reopen schools
NSW report held up as Morrison government seeks return to classrooms across Australia despite warnings from teacher unions
www.theguardian.com
A new report, cited by the chief medical officer as the federal government advocates the reopening of schools, says children are unlikely to transmit Covid-19 between each other or to adults.
The study by NSW Health’s Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), released on Sunday, examined transmission of the virus in NSW schools and childcare centres between March and mid-April.
Coronavirus: No child known to have passed COVID-19 to adults, global study finds
The review found children have much less severe symptoms and often do not have any at all.
news.sky.com
No child is known to have passed COVID-19 on to an adult, a review of evidence from around the world has found.
The review into paediatric coronavirus studies found it is likely children "do not play a significant role" in transmitting the coronavirus and are significantly less likely to become infected than adults.
It also found there has not been a single case of a child under 10 transmitting COVID-19, even through contact tracing carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Coronavirus: Swiss children under 10 allowed to hug grandparents as they 'do not transmit COVID-19'
The country's coronavirus lead says scientists "now know young children don't transmit the virus".
news.sky.com
Children under the age of 10 in Switzerland have been told they can now hug their grandparents as the country begins to ease coronavirus lockdown measures.
The country has revised its initial COVID-19 advice to stay apart after Daniel Koch, head of the Swiss infectious diseases unit, said scientists "now know young children don't transmit the virus".
He said many grandparents "live to see their grandchildren, it's important for their wellbeing".