Children a ‘significant source’ of COVID spread in households: CHEO study

Children have been a “significant source” of COVID-19 spread in households, with about 50 per cent of household members becoming infected from the first-infected individuals, a new study from CHEO has found.

According to the study, titled Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from unvaccinated asymptomatic and symptomatic household members with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, that was released on Tuesday, April 12, although kids were less likely to spread the virus compared to adults, children and adults were equally likely to become infected from the first-infected individual.

The particulars

The study, which was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, included 695 participants from 180 households in Ottawa between September 2020 and March 2021. Households also involved at least one member having had a confirmed COVID-19 infection, with each participating household having enrolled at least one child within their household.

“Our study was conducted when we were dealing with a less transmissible virus and pandemic restrictions were strongly in place, and we still had a 50 [per cent] transmission rate within households,” Dr. Maala Bhatt, pediatric emergency physician and director of emergency medicine research at CHEO and an investigator at the CHEO Research Institute, said in a statement. “Flash forward to where we are today with an extremely transmissible variant of COVID-19 and the majority of pandemic restrictions lifted; it’s safe to say transmission rates will be higher even though we have a high vaccination rate amongst those who are eligible.”

COVID-19 wastewater viral signals in Ottawa are at record levels, CHEO adds.

And in recent weeks, the number of COVID-19 positive admissions to CHEO has been approaching the levels seen in January and early February.

“I know many want to ‘live with COVID’ and abandon the layers of protection that were previously mandated, but it’s important to be aware of the high transmissibility of this virus in closed, indoor settings, such as schools,” Bhatt, the study’s lead author, said. “Our most vulnerable and our youngest children who are not yet able to be vaccinated are still at risk for COVID infection.” 

Three-quarters of all children admitted to CHEO with COVID have come during the Omicron wave, the hospital says.

And since the start of January, one in three of the roughly 4,900 monthly visits to the emergency department were for symptoms associated with the virus.

The study further hypothesized that children would act as “an even greater source of spread within households with the emergence of more infectious variants.”

Children also have “considerable potential to spread” in settings such as school and daycare, where they congregate indoors for long periods, especially now when masking is not required in many jurisdictions.

“While we’re lucky hospitals aren’t currently overloaded, emergency departments are and positivity rates are on the rise, even amongst children,” Bhatt explained.

“We continue to learn more about COVID-19 and its potential long-term health impacts, and we still aren’t clear about how long immunity lasts; these are all things researchers continue to study. As significant COVID-19 transmission continues within households and throughout the community, it’s important to continue doing what you can to keep yourself and those around you safe – mask while indoors, wash your hands, get vaccinated with all the doses you are eligible for, stay home if you’re sick, and limit close contacts.” 

Where children in Ottawa stand

On Wednesday, April 13, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reported 90 active COVID cases among children ages zero to nine and 117 active cases among the 10 to 19 age group.

In the last seven days, OPH says 62 cases in the city have included children ages zero to nine while 74 have involved kids ages 10 to 19.

Meanwhile, cumulatively, 32 children ages zero to nine have been hospitalized, while there have been 25 among 10 to 19-year-olds.

However, no deaths have been recorded in either age group throughout the entirety of the pandemic.