As the government strategises on the most effective way of getting children back to school, Boshoff Steenekamp, an epidemiologist at leading financial services and health provider, Momentum, outlined the true risks for children based on global statistics.
He was speaking at a Momentum Covid-19 webinar on 19 May, one in a series of webinars aiming to assist South Africans in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Steenekamp, children are significantly less affected than adults, accounting for only one per cent of the global infection rate, with deaths being extremely rare. These are reassuring stats considering the government’s decision to reopen schools for some grades on 1 June.
“Fortunately, we know that children are less likely to get Covid-19, and if they do, they get a very mild form. It is also very unlikely that children will spread the disease to others,” said Steenekamp.
He added infection and transmission rates in children happen less often and are less severe, but he cautioned parents not to let these statistics embolden them with a false sense of security. Safety measures, such as wearing masks, constant sanitisation and adhering to social distancing still need to be strictly exercised. He also warned these statistics do not apply to children with underlying diseases, which renders them more vulnerable to the disease.
Joining Steenekamp was an educational psychologist, Tshepiso Matentjie, who shared her key insights into the psychological challenges that children may face as a result of the nationwide lockdown. These included the likes of secondary stress emanating from parents, disruption of routine, less socialisation and even the fact that parents have now become teachers too.
“As a parent, you are the expert on your child’s development and how they adjust to change and pressure. You are a first responder when it comes to facilitating their emotional, psychological, and mental well-being, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Matentjie.
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