Q: Can I take my kids to the playground if no one else is there?
A: Not a great idea.
The problem is this: Kids lick things. Kids also put their hands all over the playground equipment (as they are supposed to do!) and those hands also go in their mouths and noses and eyes.
So, your kid will be licking and touching stuff that other (possibly sick) kids have licked and touched. And, if your kid is sick, then kids who come along afterwards might lick and touch and pick up the virus that way.
As we learn more about asymptomatic carriers, it appears that kids may be particularly likely to be asymptomatic carriers, so relying on a rule where you keep the kid home if they are looking or feeling sick is not effective. #SaferAtHome
While we've got you: A quick reminder about the difference between asymptomatic and presymptomatic cases:
Asymptomatic: Cases who never show symptoms of #COVID19 throughout the course of the disease.
Presymptomatic: Cases who are infected and are not yet showing symptoms of #COVIDー19, but who will develop symptoms eventually.
Both asymptomatic and presymptomatic cases may be infectious, meaning they are shedding virus and can infect others. #StopTheSpreadOfCorona
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1/ Q: Has almost everyone been infected with COVID by now?
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave.
3/ ➡️ During the Omicron wave from December 2021-February 2022, this estimate increased from 33% to 58%.
➡️ Rates vary a lot by age, ranging from 33.2% for those over age 65 to 75% for those under age 18.
2/ Not likely. If your kids are suddenly getting sick a lot, this is likely due to “catching up” on exposures rather than a weakened immune system.
3/ Many families w/ young kids have been hunkered down for the better part of 2 years– a good % of a young child’s entire life. While isolation had *many* downsides, we can agree that not having to suction snot out of infant noses or clean up norovirus puke was a happy upside.
1/ Q: Are cases peaking? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve).
2/ ➡️ And if the downward slope is *slower* than the rise, we will see *more* cases during the decline from a surge.
3/ Burning fast could be a silver lining of super transmissible #Omicron. Cases rose & fell quickly in S. Africa (w/ hospitalizations & deaths still lagging). The UK appears to have turned the Omicron corner. Many US states appear past their peak in cases, w/ regional variation:
Unfortunately, this includes New Year’s Eve plans. The perfect storm of a new variant & holiday get-togethers is hitting communities & health care w/ FORCE! Testing is in short supply.
3/ Health care is under extreme pressure with surging cases. If you can avoid even one additional contact, you are helping. This is a temporary and urgent request (from a health care provider).