As parents, it can be extra challenging to maneuver around this pandemic. We can’t help but worry more because we always have our children’s safety in mind. Moreover, there is a great deal of misinformation about the coronavirus online; and with uncertainty comes added anxiety.
We know that telling fact from fiction can be tricky, so we’re here to debunk a number of COVID-19 myths to help you take the right steps to protect yourself and your children.
MYTH #1: Children are safe from the Coronavirus COVID-19 disease.
While cases are less numerous and severe, children can still catch the disease.
A preliminary study from the World Health Organization1, indicated that this disease "appears to be relatively rare and moderate among children" under 19 years of age, occurring in 2.4% of cases.
While the numbers are relatively small, it’s best to take necessary precautions to keep our children safe.
MYTH #2: Unborn child can catch the virus.
COVID-19 cannot infect your unborn child.
There has been a strong myth circulating online that if a pregnant mother is infected with COVID-19, her unborn child will also be infected.
However, initial studies from the World Health Organization have confirmed that children born to mothers infected with COVID-19 were born free of this virus. It was found that the virus does not pass into the amniotic fluid2.
Although a lot remains unknown about COVID-19 still, there is still no evidence that it could be contagious during pregnancy or after delivery.
MYTH #3: Alcohol is not a good substitute for soap and water.
Fighting against COVID-19 is in your children’s hands. Washing our hands regularly with soap and water is the best way to kill the virus,3-4 but if these are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are an effective alternative5.
It is recommended to 5use a sanitizer that contains at least 60% of alcohol to be effective enough to destroy the virus.
We know the struggle of explaining to kids what germs are and how they work. So, here’s a 7Pepper and Salt trick that you can teach your little one to show them the importance of having [DLB5] clean hands. Plus, you can also ask them to sing “Happy Birthday” twice while cleaning their hands to make hand washing even more fun!
[LDS6]
MYTH #4: Healthy children don’t need to wear masks.
To minimize the spread of the virus, it is advisable for children to wear a mask when going out in public. While children are less susceptible to infection, widespread precautionary measures are still necessary to better combat the pandemic.
Due to their scarcity, remember to use masks only when necessary. Take note that children younger than 2 years of age are not advised to wear masks because of concerns that they might suffocate.7 As long as your little one is at home, wearing a mask is not necessary.
And there you have it! We know how stressful this situation is and we want you to know that Club Mama is here to help you every step of the way. Just remember, the best way to fight off this virus is to practice proper safety precautions such as hand washing, keeping distance from other people and having a strong immune system. Focus on providing your children the nutrition they need to stay healthy! We’re all in this together, mamas!
References:
1 Word Health Organization. 16-24 February 2020. Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf (Accessed 19 March 2020).
2 Word Health Organization. 18 March 2020. Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding
3-5 U.S Food and Drug Adminstration. 20 March 2020. Q&A for Consumers: Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/qa-consumers-hand-sanitizers-and-covid-19
Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention. 28 March 2020. Cleaning and Disinfection for Households.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html
Word Health Organization. 8 April 2020. Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
6 Pepper and Soap Trick Teaches Kids to Wash Hands. Author, Paul Frysh. Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH. March 17, 2020. https://www.webmd.com/lung/features/pepper-soap-wash-hands
7 Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention. 11 April 2020. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
