Studies Suggest Children Do Spread COVID-19 With Few Symptoms

Being a physician in the District in the 21st century means being on the front line of the most pressing public health issues in the world. In our small geographic boundaries, physicians help address issue found in every state all in one area. The issues are too lengthy to list on one webpage but physicians are on the front lines of addressing health issues for all District residents.

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Studies Suggest Children Do Spread COVID-19 With Few Symptoms

May 7, 2020, 08:20 AM by MSDC Staff

Two new studies suggest children, even asymptomatic ones, can easily spread COVID-19 among populations.

Two studies this week suggest what scientists have long suspected - children are equally as able to spread the novel coronavirus even while showing few if any symptoms.

One study was conducted in China and a second was conducted by German researchers. The first study from Wuhan and Shanghai found that children were as third as susceptible to infection but, when schools opened, they had three times as many contacts with adults. The second study was more straightforward - children who tested positive for COVID-19 were found to harbor as much virus - and sometimes more - as adult positive cases. The results were consistent with children hospitalized and those asymptomatic.

The first study was published in Science while the second has yet to be peer reviewed.

The studies gained prominence because of the ongoing debate about reopening schools during the pandemic. All three states in the DMV have closed schools for the academic year (Maryland just yesterday) but other states and countries are considering resuming in-person school. The justification is the seemingly low infection rate among children and the low spread rate, which these studies aimed to address.

As with any study, more research and peer review is needed to make more definitive conclusions.

Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked

Student Access to Treatment Amendment Act (B23-467)

What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.

MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools

Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.

Electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment Registry Amendment Act (B23-261)

What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).

MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.

Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.

Healthy Beverage Choices Amendment Act (B23-495)

What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.

MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.

Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.