New Chinese research may point to possible role of children in coronavirus spread

Covid-19 symptoms tend to be milder in kids, according to studies in Zhejiang and Wuhan, with asymptomatic infections ‘not uncommon’

But health experts say more investigation into the chain of transmission is needed

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Several Chinese provinces have already reopened schools, with more preparing to resume classes in early to mid-April. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00am, 29 Mar 2020Updated: 11:36pm, 29 Mar 2020

Children tend to get less severe symptoms when they contract Covid-19 and cases can be harder to detect than in adults, new research in China has found, as health experts, parents and officials weigh the risks of sending their kids to school.

A study of 36 cases in children in the eastern province of Zhejiang found that 10 – or 28 per cent – had no symptoms, while seven had mild upper respiratory symptoms, according to a paper published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on Wednesday.

Separate research published this month in The New England Journal of Medicine had similar results. It found that of 171 children who contracted the new coronavirus in Wuhan, where it was first reported in December, 27 – or 15.8 per cent – were asymptomatic, or had no immediate symptoms. Another 12 showed features of pneumonia in their medical scans, but not symptoms of infection.

“The large proportion of asymptomatic children indicates the difficulty in identifying paediatric patients who do not have clear epidemiological information, leading to a dangerous situation in community-acquired infections,” the researchers in the Zhejiang study said.

China last week declared it had “basically stopped” domestic transmission of the virus after imposing two months of lockdowns and mass quarantine measures around the country. Several provinces – including Guizhou, Qinghai and Yunnan – have already reopened some schools, and more provinces are preparing to resume classes in early to mid-April. But education authorities in Beijing and the southern province of Guangdong have yet to set a date for schools to reopen.

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New Chinese research may point to possible role of children in coronavirus spread

Covid-19 symptoms tend to be milder in kids, according to studies in Zhejiang and Wuhan, with asymptomatic infections ‘not uncommon’ But health experts say more investigation into the chain of transmission is needed

Covid-19 symptoms tend to be milder in kids, according to studies in Zhejiang and Wuhan, with asymptomatic infections ‘not uncommon’

But health experts say more investigation into the chain of transmission is needed