New study: Utah children in childcare infected parents and siblings with COVID-19

By Aaron Humes: A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that children of all ages can spread COVID-19 to parents and sibilings, according to Reuters news agency.

The study cites the case of 12 children in the state of Utah who passed on COVID-19 after contracting it at three separate childcare operations.

Previously, it had been confirmed that children 10 years and older can transmit the virus in school settings; now, much younger children are confirmed to spread the virus, including an eight-month-old who apparently infected both parents.

In the Utah cases according to Reuters, a further twelve non-facility contacts contracted COVID-19, including at least one parent who required hospitalization, siblings and an aunt. Transmission was observed from two of three children with confirmed, asymptomatic COVID-19, researchers found, further evidence that those without symptoms can spread the virus.

At two of the facilities, the researchers traced the primary infection to staff members exposed to COVID-19 through a family member. The source of the outbreak at the third facility was not identified, making it possible its cases resulted from an infection that originated elsewhere, researchers said.

CDC noted other limitations to the study that could have impacted the data collected, including changes in contact tracing methodology during the pandemic and testing criteria that initially included only persons with typical COVID-19 symptoms.

Still, researchers said, having COVID-19 testing available and regularly testing contacts of those infected in childcare settings, including those without symptoms, could help prevent family members from becoming infected.

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