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The Coronavirus Cruel Twist

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed the "cruel twist" in her state's horror Delta outbreak, with more than one-third of Queensland's Coronavirus cases, are in children aged under 10. Writing in the Courier-Mail, the Premier warned the virus was “spreading among our kids” and that Queenslanders must work together to stop the spread. She warned the Delta variant “moves faster” and “makes people sicker”, with many destined to end up in hospital as their condition deteriorates. And she confirmed that “one of the cruel twists of this outbreak” has been the fact it is “affecting the schools where a lot of healthcare workers send their children”, potentially plunging the health system into chaos.

Delta variant creates new COVID danger in Australia, as early data suggests it is more severe and more transmissible

Most of the cases in Queensland’s latest Covid cluster are children, with one spending six days in the community while infectious before being placed in quarantine, with more than a third aged under 10, in what has become a game-changer in how health authorities attempt to control the contagion.

How does COVID-19 affect children?

Children, including very young children, can develop COVID-19. Many of them have no symptoms. Those that do get sick tend to experience milder symptoms such as low-grade fever, fatigue, and cough. Some children have had severe complications, but this has been less common. Children with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe illness. A potentially severe and dangerous complication can occur in children. Called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), it can lead to life-threatening problems with the heart and other organs in the body. In this condition, different body parts, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs, can become inflamed. Symptoms of MIS-C can include:

  • fever lasting more than a couple of days
  • rash
  • "bloodshot eyes"(redness of the white part of the eye)
  • stomachache
  • vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • a large, swollen lymph node in the neck
  • neck pain
  • red, cracked lips
  • a tongue that is redder than usual and looks like a strawberry
  • swollen hands and/or feet
  • irritability and/or unusual sleepiness or weakness.

Treatment and management of COVID-19

There’s currently no specific treatment for COVID-19 that can make it go away more quickly. If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19 and has uncomfortable symptoms, your doctor or another health professional will let you know how to manage the symptoms. This might include:

  • paracetamol – for example, Panadol® and Dymadon®
  • plenty of fluids and rest.

Your state or territory health service will be notified if your child has tested positive for COVID-19. Someone from the health service will contact you to tell you what you need to do to protect others from infection. They’ll say that your child needs to go into home quarantine for 10-14 days, depending on your state or territory. Home quarantine means staying at home and not going near people outside your family. If your child has COVID-19, it’s very important for them to stay at home, unless they need urgent medical assistance.

Should children wear a mask?

WHO advises that people always consult and abide by local authorities on recommended practices in their area. An international and multidisciplinary expert group brought together by WHO reviewed the evidence on COVID-19 disease and transmission in children and the limited available evidence on the use of masks by children. Based on this and other factors such as childrens’ psychosocial needs and developmental milestones, WHO and UNICEF advise the following: Children aged 5 years and under should not be required to wear masks. This is based on the safety and overall interest of the child and the capacity to appropriately use a mask with minimal assistance. WHO and UNICEF advise that the decision to use masks for children aged 6-11 should be based on the following factors:

  • Whether there is widespread transmission in the area where the child resides
  • The ability of the child to safely and appropriately use a mask
  • Access to masks, as well as laundering and replacement of face masks in certain settings (such as schools and childcare services)
  • Adequate adult supervision and instructions to the child on how to put on, take off and safely wear face masks
  • The potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial development, in consultation with teachers, parents/caregivers and/or medical providers
  • Specific settings and interactions the child has with other people who are at high risk of developing a serious illness, such as the elderly and those with other underlying health conditions
WHO and UNICEF advise that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a 1-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area. More on the types of masks, how to choose them, and how to wear them is available here: FACE MASKS
Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated. With the Delta variant, this is more urgent than ever.