SALT LAKE CITY — A study released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used Utah children to show how COVID-19 is apparently able to be transmitted from very young children to adults.
It focused on three outbreaks in Salt Lake City child care facilities between April and July. The study concluded 12 children caught the coronavirus at the facilities and then spread it to at least 12 of the 46 parents or siblings that they came in contact at home.
One of the children was 8-months-old and reportedly infected both parents, shattering previous perceptions that children under 10 were less likely to spread COVID-19.
All the infected children who transmitted the virus to their parents and siblings had mild to no symptoms.
Despite the study using only cases from the three specific childcare locations, 17 childcare facilities were identified to have at least two COVID-19 cases within a two-week period between April 1 and July 10.
Two of the locations closed on March 13 and later reopened, while the other was deemed an essential business and remained open until it was shut down on April 3.
The findings don’t mean that schools and child-care programs need to close, but it does confirm that the virus can spread within those places and then be brought home by kids.
Because young children are less likely to wear face masks, the study urges those who work in childcare facilities to wear personal protection.