Why you shouldn’t worry about kids picking up COVID-19 at the playground

After all, we were told that touching infected surfaces and close contact interactions can spread the virus – and we know that children don’t like washing hands and personal space as much as adults do.

But the reality is that there is not much to worry about when playing outdoors, whether in a park or in the schoolyard, scientists say.

There are a few reasons for this. First, children are less likely to transmit the virus than adults, said Professor Sarah Lewis, an epidemiology expert at the University of Bristol. Previous studies have shown that 1% to 5% of diagnosed cases of COVID-19 occur in children, who tend to be asymptomatic. In young children (4 to 11 years old), the evidence points to a reduced risk of contracting the virus and spreading it.

A Public Health England study of school outbreaks in June found that out of more than 1 million children attending preschool and elementary school, only 70 children were affected. Other global studies reinforce this. One from South Korea suggested that children under the age of 10 spread the virus much less frequently than adults. Another from Singapore concluded that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 among children in schools, especially preschools, is likely to be low.

It is important to note that children can still spread the virus to adults – but again, the risk appears to be low. During the first wave, living with children of any age was not associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe results from COVID-19, a study in the London newspaper The BMJ found, compared to not living with children . However, during the second wave, when schools reopened, there was a slightly higher risk of infection and hospitalization for adults.

We also know that external transmission “occurs very rarely,” said Lewis. “The only documented occurrences of this are at outdoor events, which included an indoor element,” she explained. More broadcasts are taking place inside, she noted. “In terms of viral transmission, it is very safe for children to play together outside.”

Factors like wind, fresh air and sunlight help to disperse the virus.

“For children, the risk of the virus is very low, but the damage from preventing them from playing together is potentially high,” said Lewis. “It is essential for their mental and physical health that children can play together.”

How about touching a shared apparatus such as swings, slides and roundabouts in the local park? Should you clean them up beforehand? Well, although a lot of focus has been put on hand hygiene, washing and cleaning during the pandemic, we now know that fomite infection – touching infected surfaces and then touching your mouth or nose – is probably not as much of a risk as thought.

Studies prove this. In the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize that surface transmission “is not considered to be the main form of spread of the virus”. That said, hand washing is still good practice and children should be encouraged to do so when they get home. If you feel more comfortable, it won’t hurt to clean the appliance before and after your child has used it.

There is some emerging evidence that a small number of children are exhibiting symptoms of long COVID, months after becoming ill for the first time. Data estimates from the UK’s Office of National Statistics suggest that five weeks after the positive test for COVID-19, 15% of high school children and 13% of children under 12 continue to struggle with symptoms.

Still, Allyson Pollock, clinical professor of public health at Newcastle University, said that parents “shouldn’t worry” about their children playing in the school park and playgrounds.

“They should encourage their children to go outside and play with their friends. The risk of transmission to anyone, whether an adult or a child, is absolutely insignificant outdoors – and even less so for young children, ”said Pollock.

This article was originally published on HuffPost UK.