STATNEWS: Children will pay long-term stress-related costs of Covid-19 unless we follow the science

[SheltieLover]

https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/04/children-long-term-stress-related-costs-covid-19/

By NADINE BURKE HARRIS

AUGUST 4, 2020

The world is learning more about the uncommon but puzzling ways Covid-19 can show up in kids, keeping worried parents on the lookout for symptoms of the disease. We should also be concerned about how toxic stress brought on by the pandemic, or made worse by it, will affect children’s developing brains and bodies and their future health.

In millions of households, kids are experiencing an incredible amount of stress and anxiety. They’ve lost the stability and safety of schools and day cares, and with it their social connections to friends and teachers. They’re dealing with their own feelings of fear and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus — and there is no clear end in sight.

Meanwhile, they’re seeing parents and other caregivers struggle with the emotional and psychological distress of an unprecedented pandemic. With the unemployment rate at 11% and expected to stay high, millions of children are living through the aftermath of their parents’ loss of jobs and income.

Decades of studies tell us that the kind of trauma and stress many children are experiencing during the Covid-19 emergency has the potential to embed itself in children’s DNA, dramatically affecting their brains and other critical body systems and, as a result, their health across a lifetime. In my practice as a pediatrician working with children exposed to trauma, I have seen firsthand how families’ struggles can have indelible effects on children’s health and well-being.

Much more at link.

[at140]

1. I read somewhere that people under age 24

had less than 0.2% serious problem from covid-19 infections. If that is true, schools should open,
with extra precautions for older teachers.

[Piasladic]

2. older teachers?

You mean the ones over 24?

[at140]

7. More like older than 50

Healthy people under 50 have low mortality rates. Any one over age 25 with existing health problems should obviously be protected.

[SheltieLover]

3. Absolutely not true!

In TN one of the highest infection rates and hospitalization rates is for younger people starting around age 20.

[at140]

8. Do you have any data links from CCD for younger than 25?

Or links to the rates of Hospitalizations for age 24 and under in TN?

[SheltieLover]

11. Here is one

Links exist, but no time to search them up.

https://www.localmemphis.com/mobile/article/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-numbers/rise-in-children-testing-positive-for-covid-19-spikes-more-than-100-in-some-parts-of-west-tn/522-eb6ba6eb-f051-4f67-a7be-1b70984b1b48

[at140]

15. I am specifically interested in Hospitalizations for under 24 age

The link you posted is mostly about infections. Young people are getting mostly asymptomatic infections, and do not need hospitalization.

[SheltieLover]

12. Another link

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wjhl.com/local-coronavirus-coverage/breaking-down-local-covid-19-data/amp/

Opening schools is irresponsible & only serves to ensure trumputin's agenda is met. 🤬

I hope these links help you.

[at140]

16. Please see post #15..nt

[SheltieLover]

14. Yet another...

https://www.vox.com/21352597/covid-19-children-infection-transmission-new-studies

Cites CDC, if that is important to you.

[at140]

17. Please see post #15..nt

[Mariana]

18. Do you have any links to support what you "read somewhere"? nt.

[Calculating]

5. But they'll bring it home to their parents and other elders

That's why school can't open, not because the virus is particularly threatening to kids.

[at140]

10. Who will babysit the kids when parents are at work?

Who will fix them a nutritional lunch which kids receive in school?

[genxlib]

6. You have to consider the law of large numbers

0.2% is a low number. But there are over 50 million school age kids in the US. That's potentially 100,000 serious problems.

And that doesn't even get into the dangers presented to teachers, staff and families.

[at140]

9. Don't you worry about the 49.8 million school kids

who are forced to stay at home? I am hearing all sorts of potential problems for many students whose parents work, kids are alone at home,
and missing nutritional breakfast and lunch at school.

[genxlib]

13. Absolutely, I am concerned about that

I just want to make sure we don't downplay the dangers to get there.

I'm not even saying you are wrong. I am just saying not to dismiss that low percentage number as insignificant. In reality, the number is very substantial in turns of actual kids.

I understand your argument but I think it is much more difficult to use that line of reasoning when you acknowledge the real numbers of casualties involved.

I am in the design industry and have done some work in the educational field. Mostly I think that schooling is a massive logistical operation that most people take for granted. The effort it takes to transport, house, feed and teach millions of kids is miraculous on a good day. Throw in all of the challenges presented by safety measures and the high stakes involved and I simple have my doubts that it can be accomplished. If it can, it would require a massive influx in cash and additional space allocation. Which sounds especially optimistic when they are already overcrowded and typically have to beg parents for basic supplies. I am simply cynical that it can be done safely.

[Baclava]

4. Children by and large are pretty resilient creatures, but they due tend to mimic those around them

They shed the bumps and bruises quicker if parents dont obsess over them. So, its gonna be on the parents to guide them through this.