Coronavirus COVID-19

Children make up a very small proportion of reported COVID-19 cases, with about 1% of all cases reported being under 10 years, and 4% aged 10-19 years. Children appear as likely to be infected as adults, but they have a much lower risk than adults of developing symptoms or severe disease. There is still some uncertainty about the extent to which asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic children transmit disease.

Update: Recently (April 27th) some rare syndrome has been seen in UK children, and the WHO is investigating whether coronavirus causes rare inflammatory disease in some kids. Stay tuned as we will update when we know more.

Source: ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)

Physical distancing aims to reduce physical contact between potentially infected people and healthy people, or between population groups with high rates of transmission and others with low or no level of transmission. The objective of this is to decrease or interrupt the spread of COVID-19. Minimizing contact with each other means also the virus will spread more slowly.  Consequently, few people become infected and healthcare institutions don’t become overwhelmed.

Note that the term ‘physical distancing’ means the same thing as the widely used term ‘social distancing’, but it more accurately describes what is intended, namely that people keep physically apart. Physical distancing measures might be implemented over an extended period and their success depends on ensuring that people maintain social contact – from a distance – with friends, family and colleagues. Internet-based communications and the phone are therefore key tools for ensuring a successful physical distancing strategy.

On a personal level, you can perform physical distancing measures by:

• Voluntarily self-isolating if you know you have the virus that causes COVID-19, or if you have suggestive respiratory symptoms, or if you belong to a high-risk group (i.e. you are aged 70 years or more, or you have an underlying health condition).

Many countries in the EU/EEA and the UK have installed quarantine and social/physical distancing as measures to prevent the further spread of the virus.

These measures can include:

• The full or partial closure of educational institutions and workplaces;
• Limiting the number of visitors and limiting the contact between the residents of confined settings, such as long-term care facilities and prisons;
• Cancellation, prohibition and restriction of mass gatherings and smaller meetings;
• Mandatory quarantine of buildings or residential areas;
• Internal or external border closures;
• Stay-at-home restrictions for entire regions or countries.

Source: ECDC & RIVM

• Stay at home as much as possible
  • Limit visitors to your home whenever possible (maximal 3 visitors)
  • Keep 1.5 meters distance from each other
• Only go outside if it is really necessary
  • For work, if you are unable to work from home, for grocery shopping, for fresh air, or to do an errand for someone else.
• Do not visit people over 70 years of age or people with vulnerable health
  • Certainly never visit if you have any cold or flu symptoms
• If you go outside, keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters from other people (with the exception of members of your household and children of 12 years and under.
• Groups consisting of more than 2 people who do not adhere to the 1.5 meter distance rule could receive a fine.
• Ensure good hygiene practice
  • Wash your hands
    • For 20 seconds with water and soap, and dry them thoroughly
    • Before you leave home, when you return home, when you have blown your nose, and, of course, before eating and after going to the toilet.
  • Cough and sneeze into the inside of your elbow
  • Use paper tissues to blow your nose and throw these away immediately
  • Wash your hands afterwards
  • Do not shake hands
  • Keep 1.5 meters distance (2 arm lengths) from others to reduce the risk of spreading the virus through respiratory droplets.
    • This applies to everyone; for example; in the street, in shops, with colleagues, except at home within the family group or household.
• If you feel unwell, stay at home. If you develop any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, you should immediately call your healthcare provider for advice.

See other FAQ in the Spreading | Prevention category via this link.

Source: RIVM, ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)

We still don’t fully understand how the new coronavirus spreads, but we’re learning more every day.

While animals are believed to be the original source, the virus spread is now from person to person (human-to-human transmission). There is not enough epidemiological information at this time to determine how easily this virus spreads between people, but it is currently estimated that, on average, one infected person will infect between two and three other people.

The virus seems to be transmitted mainly via small respiratory droplets through sneezing, coughing, or when people interact with each other for some time in close proximity (usually less than one metre). These droplets can then be inhaled, or they can land on surfaces that others may come into contact with, who can then get infected when they touch their nose, mouth or eyes. The virus can survive on different surfaces from several hours (copper, cardboard) up to a few days (plastic and stainless steel). However, the amount of viable virus declines over time and may not always be present in sufficient numbers to cause infection.

The incubation period for COVID-19 (i.e. the time between exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms) is currently estimated to bet between one and 14 days.

We know that the virus can be transmitted when people who are infected show symptoms such as coughing. There is also some evidence suggesting that transmission can occur from a person that is infected even two days before showing symptoms; however, uncertainties remain about the effect of transmission by  non-symptomatic persons.

If you want more in-depth information the an interesting article about how are people being infected with COVID-19 can be found on the website of livescience.

Source: ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)

If you must travel, take the following steps to help reduce your chances of getting sick:

• Avoid contact with sick people, in particular those with respiratory symptoms and fever.
• It should be emphasised that older people and those with underlying health conditions should take these precautionary measures very seriously.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Make sure you are up to date with your routine vaccinations, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine.
• Travellers who develop any symptoms during or after travel should self-isolate; those developing acute respiratory symptoms within 14 days upon return should be advised to seek immediate medical advice, ideally by phone first to their national healthcare provider.

Source: CDC & ECDC