Human Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that usually cause illnesses like the common cold. Almost everyone gets one of these viruses at some point in their lives. Most of the time the illness only lasts for a short time.
COVID-19: a new coronavirus
It was discovered in December 2019 and has now spread throughout the world. As the virus spreads, we are seeing some people with mild illness, some who get very sick, and some who have died. The reason health officials are concerned is because the virus is new, which makes it hard to predict how it will continue to affect people. Researchers and doctors are learning more about it every day, including exactly how it spreads and who is most at risk.
Symptoms of COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe and can include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Who is at risk?
According to the CDC, children do not seem to be at higher risk for getting COVID-19. However, some people are, including
- Older adults
- People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease
- Suppressed immune systems
How to protect your family
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but there are a few things you can do to keep your family healthy:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Look for one that is 60% or higher alcohol-based.
Here is a video from StoryBots to explain why we wash our hands. - Keep your kids away from others who are sick and keep them home if they are ill.
- Teach kids to cough and sneeze into a tissue (make sure to throw it away after each use!) or to cough and sneeze into their arm or elbow, not their hands.
- Clean and disinfect your home as usual using regular household cleaning sprays or wipes.
- Avoid touching your face; teach your children to do the same.
- Avoid travel to highly infected areas.
A note about facemasks: The CDC only recommends facemasks for people who have symptoms of COVID-19, not for people who are healthy. Healthcare workers and anyone taking care of someone with COVID-19 should wear facemasks.
More information for parents/caregivers on disease prevention and household cleaning from the CDC can be found here.
What to do in case you have COVID-19 or think you have been exposed to COVID-19?
- If your child is not sick, please have him or her stay home, avoid public places and monitor them for 14 days from the time when you think they were exposed.
- If your child develops fever or any other symptoms, please utilize our telemedicine services (link here to our virtual appointments page) to consult with one of our doctors about your child. You may also contact our local health department.
- If your child is having trouble breathing or exhibiting any other signs of severe illness please contact 911 or go straight to one of our local emergency rooms. If you transport yourself to the emergency room, please contact the hospital prior to your arrival.
Helping Children Adjust during School/Daycare Closures
As of March 13, 2020, local schools have announced that schools will be closed for at least 2 weeks. During this time, try to keep your children’s days as routine and scheduled as possible. Here are a few tips that can help:
- Read books with your child. It’s not only fun, but reading together strengthens your bond with your child AND helps their development.
- Make time for active play. Bring out the blocks, balls, jump ropes and buckets and let the creativity go. Play games that kids of all ages can play, like tag or duck duck goose. Let your kids make up new games. Encourage older kids to make up a workout or dance to keep them moving.
- Keep an eye on media time. Whenever possible, play video games or go online with your child to keep that time structured and limited. If kids are missing their school friends or other family, try video chats to stay in touch.
Talking to children about COVID-19
There’s a lot of news coverage about the outbreak of COVID-19 and it can be overwhelming for parents and frightening to kids. We encourage you to filter information and talk about it in a way that children can understand. These tips can help:
- Simple reassurance. Remind children that researchers and doctors are learning as much as they can, as quickly as they can, about the virus and are taking steps to keep everyone safe.
- Give them control. It’s also a great time to remind your children of what they can do to help – washing their hands often, coughing into a tissue or their sleeves, and getting enough sleep.
- Watch for signs of anxiety. Children may not have the words to express their worry, but you may see signs of it. They may get cranky, be more clingy, have trouble sleeping, or seem distracted. Keep the reassurance going and try to stick to your normal routines.
- Monitor their media. Keep young children away from frightening images they may see on TV, social media, computers, etc. For older children, talk together about what they are hearing on the news and correct any misinformation or rumors you may hear.
- Be a good role model. COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate and neither should we. While COVID-19 started in Wuhan, China, it doesn’t mean that having Asian ancestry – or any other ancestry – makes someone more susceptible to the virus or more contagious. Stigma and discrimination hurt everyone by creating fear or anger towards others. When you show empathy and support to those who are ill, your children will too.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2020)