Home Health Children’s role in spreading COVID-19 not known yet says BC Public Health...

Children’s role in spreading COVID-19 not known yet says BC Public Health Officer

Children to wash hands frequently in schools

washing hands, children
Children washing hands at school [web]
BC 2024 Provincial Election news analysis

Friday March 13, 2020 ~ BC

by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. ~ West Shore Voice News

Children seem not to be adversely affected by this virus. To what extent are asymptomatic children a source of infection to others?

World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that children up to age 19 tend to have very mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all. In a recent news conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry added the comment “thankfully” to that.

The highest risk group for COVID-19 are people over age 60, and anyone with underlying health conditions including heart and lung disease, diabetes, and anything impacting the immune system.

Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry told West Shore Voice News yesterday about the impact of asymptomatic children in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic: “We still don’t know the role that children play in spreading these viruses.”

Dr Bonnie Henry
BC Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry addresses the media about COVID-19 on Thursday March 12, 2020 at the Legislative Press Gallery in Victoria [screenshot]

Dr Henry says: “What we’ve been encouraging schools to do and what they’ve been doing across the board, I understand, is having more opportunities for children in schools to wash their hands frequently.”

She added that teachers around the province are giving feedback on how they’re doing that, with young kids in particular. “Even when there’s only one sink and they all soap up their hands and wash and do it in a line.”

Dr Henry says there are ways to use this to help build some confidence and help alleviate some of the anxiety that young people have as well.

“We’re hearing that with children. It’s a way to say this is how you can take care of yourself and wash your hands. This will help.”

BC has not yet decided to close schools. Spring break starts after end of classes today, March 13. That will give two weeks for further assessment as to whether schools will be reopened on March 30 after spring break.

Schools in Ontario are closed for an extended spring break, in total three weeks at this point.

=== LINKS

World Health Organization COVID-19 Information and Updates

Pandemic Plan is in place in BC, says Premier (article about 2-hour BC Health media announcement on March 6, 2020)

COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and planning materials: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/pandemic-influenza.

Recommendations on protecting yourself and your community, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)

For more information and latest updates on COVID-19, follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC or visit http://www.bccdc.ca/

City of Langford COVID-19 information page