In an interview with CBS News, Dr. Dyan Hes, a pediatrician at Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City, said that eighty percent (80%) of children are likely to have the coronavirus.
That is despite the recent statistics that show that only one point seven percent (1.7%) of the 148,082 confirmed cases in the United States are children under eighteen. According to Dr. Hes, these numbers are "totally wrong."
In her explanation, Dr. Hes pointed out that she is speaking from experience in New York City, where most children are not being tested. And if the child is sick, Dr. Hes says that it has to be assumed that they have coronavirus.
She also said in her interview that there is a possibility that 80 to 90% of the children are asymptomatic or are not manifesting symptoms of the coronavirus. That is why Dr. Hes believes that the numbers on the infected population are skewed.
What could be a bigger problem?
Dr. Hes reiterates that the problem with kids who are probably infected but are asymptomatic is that they are potential carriers of the disease. And because public schools did not close immediately, the teachers, school staff, and other people whom they have met could have been infected by the kids.
Just this Monday, according to the New York City Department of Education, 21 of their teaching force have died due to the coronavirus.
What to do now?
Dr. Hes believes that the best thing to do right now is to assume that if the child is showing symptoms like low-grade fever and cold, the child has the coronavirus.
But for Dr. Hes, this does not mean that you have to rush to the hospital. According to her, the only reason for visiting hospitals now are either vaccine visits or if the child is short of breath. She also emphasized the importance of social distancing. Dr. Hes said that the fourteen (14) days quarantine period is very crucial so as not to spread the virus. Also, one best way to avoid further spread is to always keep the hands clean.
What do other studies show about coronavirus and children?
Some experts are still reminding everyone that the theory that kids will not catch the virus is not true. What some studies pose as a theory is that there are the same risks as children and adults, but children have lesser severe symptoms. Even in Chinese researches is that testing in children is less likely to happen especially if their symptoms are milder.
But what is alarming with these studies is that eleven percent (11%) of the infected infants became very ill, this is higher compared to the level of illness experienced by other age groups among children.
Also, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention report on April 6 stressed that even if cases in children are less severe, preventive measures are still important. Especially because if these patients are asymptomatic, they are likely to become the reason for disease transmission.
