India study shows young kids spread COVID-19 among themselves more often than thought

A new study out of India finds children can spread the coronavirus among themselves more than we thought. That’s contradicting widely-held beliefs about COVID-19.

The study also found that young adults are the main individuals spreading the virus. A small group of young adults included in the study were responsible for most new infections, making them superspreaders.

Jeni Hirman, who falls in the young adult category, says her three kids are back to school, back to their activities and are happier and healthier than ever.

“My kids are, they are better at wearing masks than most adults,” Hirman said. “They are totally comfortable wearing them at school and wearing them all day long.”

But Hirman is not surprised to hear that a new study says kids are spreading the virus to one another at high rates.

“It makes sense just because kids aren’t very good at keeping their hands to themselves when they are younger,” Hirman said.

Dr. Rebekah Bernard, the president of Collier County Medical Society, looked at the findings and explained practical reason for spread among children.

“Of course, they touch. They play,” Bernard said. “Hand washing is not always something that happens as regularly as it should, so we know that kids spread germs. They spread it to each other.”

But that’s not the only major finding. Researchers in India found that 70% of infected people never infected anyone else. But 8% of infected patients were responsible for 60% of new infections.

Most of the people in that 8% were between 20 years old and 45 years old.

“They found in this study that super spreaders tend to be young adult,” Bernard said. “And they really think the reason is because those are the people that are out and about the most.”

“I totally understand the kind of volatile reaction to go outside again,” Justin McKenzie said.

The study included more than 3 million people. Researchers say it’s the largest study of its kind in the world.

Though Hirman is a young adult and her kids are back in school, she says she’s lucky COVID-19 has not hit home for her.

“For the people that I know in my age range and the other parents with teenagers and young kids, I don’t know anyone that’s been affected,” Hirman said.

MORE:

• Big contact tracing study shows role of kids and superspreaders in coronavirus pandemic
• Study – Epidemiology and transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in two Indian states