Many aspects of the novel coronavirus remain a mystery, and new research conducted in South Korea by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has found that older children are more likely to spread the virus within a household.
The study was conducted among 5 706 COVID-19 patients in South Korea, and researchers traced and tested approximately 60 000 people who had been in contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-COV-2. This study found that on average, 11.8% of household contacts tested positive for COVID-19 and that rates were higher for contacts of children than adults.
For those who live with patients between the ages of 10 and 19 years old, 18.6% tested positive for the virus within about 10 days after the initial case was detected. This is the highest rate of transmission among the groups studied.
Children who are under the age of 10 years old seem to have the lowest transmission rate.
Across the world, there have been debates as to whether schools should be allowed to resume classes. Parents who have full-time jobs have been struggling to juggle work with the added stress of having kids at home.
There have been several protests by teachers in South Africa during lockdown, as they do not believe it is yet safe for students to return to school. In the US, the Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funds for school districts that do not reopen amid health concerns.
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