Even children who do not show symptoms may still carry the disease and pass it on to others. COVID-19 can easily be transmitted from person to person, and people do not have pre-existing immunity. Without controls, a large proportion of the population could become infected in any area where the virus circulates. In areas where large outbreaks occur, the health system may become overwhelmed, leading to an increasing fatality rate for COVID-19 as well as an increase in deaths from all causes. The severity of the situation thus requires communities to do what they can to limit transmission, including closing schools if necessary.

Source: The Conversation

Drafted: 13 March 2020