Parents worldwide have felt the pressure of protecting their children since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. They had to deal with mental health, online school and being away from relatives and friends, as well as many extracurricular activities. As the summer days arrived, parents started to think about the fall, when children would go back to school. What will going back to school be like in the context of the current situation?
The Delta strain became the dominant variant in the U.S
According to recent data, CDC reports that the Delta variant is accountable for more than 80% of the cases in the U.S, and parents are wondering how this aggressive strain could affect children. As previously characterized by health officials and scientists, the Delta variant is highly contagious and much more aggressive than other SARS-CoV-2 strains.
Children under the age of 12 are not eligible for a vaccination against the coronavirus, which means that they are vulnerable. From the 34 million cases of coronavirus infection in the U.S, more than 4 million cases have been children, according to CDC. It is known that at least 335 children under 17 years old died due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Most children do not develop severe cases
Although health providers agree that most children do not develop severe cases, the new strains become more and more dangerous. The Delta strain is highly transmissible, and it will be hard to keep things under control in communities with low vaccination rates. Concerns remain as to what will happen once the school year starts.
Some local authorities already talk about the mandatory use of masks indoors and in crowded places, including schools. The FDA is also working on authorizing COVID-19 vaccination for children under 12.
