What Scientists Know About How Children Spread COVID-19
By Jim Morrison/Smithsonianmag.com
Every year, children are a major driver of transmission for the viruses that cause the flu and the common cold. So this March, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, Tina Hartert of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine expected the same to be true for the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. But months later, Hartert and other respiratory disease experts are still trying to pin down the elusive virus, which has surrendered only hints about its effects on children and their ability to spread the infection.
What has become clear is that children, especially younger children, do not get nearly as ill as adults, especially older people, and rarely die from COVID-19. For example, a meta-analysis of existing studies in Pediatric Pulmonology looked at 550 cases among children under 18 in China, Italy, and Spain; it found only nine children had a severe or critical case of COVID and only one, who had underlying conditions, died.
Carol graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio and received her diploma as a registered nurse. She attended Bowling Green State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Literature. She attended the University of Toledo, College of Nursing, and received a Master’s of Nursing Science Degree as an Educator.
She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with her husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescues.
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Imagine how much less brainwashed your kids will be by not going to school for a year.
That’s crazy talk, Jay. I’m a high school Special Education teacher working with kids that wouldn’t have even been in school 50 years ago. Far from being “brainwashed”, school for them is the center of their lives. They love going to school and most regular ed. students love having them there. The toughest gang-bangers in the school jump at the chance to open doors for them when I wheel-chair them through the halls.
The social interaction these students get has been totally absent in so-called distance learning model. We have to somehow figure out how to give them the one-on-one hands-on instruction they need in order to learn. It will be a challenge, but I can’t wait to get back working with them again in the fall.
Jay, There are children who do not yet know how to read and write. Often times a parent, or someone who has not been taught how to teach these valuable and essential skills will not be successful in teaching these all important life skills…skills they will need to begin a life of learning and being a member of society. Distance learning is actually very difficult for both the student and teacher and parents, if they are lucky enough to be back at their jobs to make money for the family to live on, are not expected to have the teaching skills needed for young children as well as those with disabilities…..
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