NEW YORK – There’s no clear evidence that the COVID-19 Delta Variant is causing more severe disease in children, but one of the nation’s top health officials says it’s putting more kids in the hospital through “sheer infection numbers.”
“The only thing we know for sure is that more infections mean more children will be in the hospital,” explained Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
For those under 12 not yet eligible for vaccination, top health officials continue to say masking and physical distancing are key. What you do beyond that depends on your child’s risk factors.
“I would probably not have one of my kids who are too young to be vaccinated go to one of those big sleepovers where you have multiple, five, six kids,” said Dr. F. Perry Wilson with Yale’s School of Medicine.
But Dr. Wilson says a one on one slumber party, may be more manageable, just mixing two households.
And the biggest covid risk for kids under 12, who aren’t vaccinated? The same as it is for unvaccinated adults.
“Those are indoor, crowded activities where people aren’t wearing masks,” said Dr. Wilson.
Wilson says outdoor activities are relatively safe, however.
“If you’re packing indoors because you want that air conditioning or when the weather gets colder, you’re packing indoors to get that heat, that’s when the risk of transmission is going to be high,” furthered Dr. Wilson.
And if you feel any COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, Dr. Wilson says to get tested.
“Especially if you’re living with unvaccinated people because you’ll be fine, but you might be putting them at risk,” said Dr. Wilson.
Being vaccinated makes you less likely to have the severe symptoms of COVID-19, so Wilson says vaccinated people should pay attention to even mild symptoms, like a cough, and get tested.
Leave a Reply