A recent study has revealed that infants and toddlers are more likely to transmit COVID-19 within their households than teenagers. Following a period of increasing vaccination rates in the spring, those numbers have stalled as new infections have surged. With the Delta variant spreading rapidly, many Americans have assumed that young children are less likely to introduce the virus into their homes compared to their older counterparts. However, a study highlighted by the New York Times indicates that once babies and toddlers are infected, they are more effective at spreading the virus to other family members.
Research Findings
The research involved tracking all positive COVID-19 test results within households and identifying the first individual to exhibit symptoms or test positive. This finding is particularly significant because young children typically do not wear masks, which increases the risk of transmission. The study focused on households where the initial case involved someone under 18, and it looked for additional infections among family members within two weeks.
Expert Opinions
One Twitter user shared her experience, which aligns with the study’s conclusions. Initially, experts believed that young children were less likely to contract or spread the virus, a notion that has come under scrutiny, especially since children had limited social interactions during the pandemic’s early days. Dr. Mia Thompson, a respiratory epidemiologist, pointed out that this perspective might have been skewed due to children being largely confined to their homes and not attending school or daycare.
The findings suggest that very young children, who require substantial care and cannot be isolated when ill, can effectively transmit the virus. “This study confirms that even the youngest children can spread COVID-19,” stated Dr. Zoe Patel, an epidemiologist. She emphasized the importance of considering how to protect schools as they prepare to reopen.
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Conclusion
In summary, the study underscores the potential for infants and toddlers to transmit COVID-19 more readily than teenagers, prompting a reevaluation of safety measures in households and schools.
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