Death Comes to Boson - Grim Reaper Joins School Re-Opening Advocates Protest

The coronavirus crisis is affecting us all, but some groups appear to be more vulnerable than others to the disease. Older people and those with underlying health problems are more likely to experience severe forms of the illness. But that doesn't mean kids can't catch the virus and become seriously poorly. The youngest cases have been infants only a few days old. And there have been a small number of tragic reports of children dying from COVID-19.

Researchers at Imperial College London have found a clear link between older age and the likelihood of being hospitalised with coronavirus. But while young, fit people do appear to be far less likely to experience serious complications from COVID-19, even the healthiest (and youngest) of us could experience severe symptoms.

A study from China of more than 2,000 children who had contracted COVID-19 found that although the cases were generally less severe in kids compared to adults, children were

still vulnerable to infection.

"Unfortunately children can get seriously ill with coronavirus," points out GP Dr Adwoa Danso. "We have seen very young people die, with no known underlying conditions."

So many people are worried about when, or if, to open schools for younger children through college.  Many colleges are moving to online video presentations and Zoom classes.

But some parents are pressing to open the elementary public schools.  Acros

s the US there are people who say that the danger to children from isolation and a lack of formal education with face to face teachers and fellow students is a greater danger to most children than COVID-19. 

A local Boson group has been campaigning along with Mayor Welsh

for the re-opening of Boson Public Schools in September in whatever modified way necessary. 

At a protest calling for the re-opening a man in a cosplay get-up with black robes and a scythe wanted to make a visual statement.  The counter-protester was implying that the people who want children to go back to school are giving a death sentence to the kids. 

Why are children less affected?

Reading about these tragic cases is likely to cause parents understandable anxiety, but reassuringly these incidents appear to be very rare. However, although the risk of a child experiencing a serious case of coronavirus is low, it’s not impossible.

"Children are the least likely to die from coronavirus. But even so, it's a bit of a Russian roulette if you catch this. Nobody knows how it's going to affect you. And that's what makes it so terrifying," says Dr Gero Baiarda, a GP at GPDQ.

While young children are one of the groups that are most vulnerable to illnesses like flu, coronavirus seems to be a different scenario. We don't know enough about COVID-19 to be sure yet, but scientists believe children may generally experience milder symptoms than adults because of how their immune systems work.

As COVID-19 is a new illness that we haven't been exposed to before, none of us has built up any sort of defence to it. But children's immune systems are quite used to encountering illnesses they haven't met before, which may be why they are better at responding to coronavirus.

An excessive immune reaction to COVID-19 can cause serious (and potentially fatal) complications. Some researchers think that because children's immune systems are less likely to overreact to the virus, their lungs are protected from serious damage.

Stop the spread

Although children tend to be less severely affected by COVID-19, parents must remember that kids can still spread it. Even if a child isn't experiencing symptoms, they could be a silent carrier and pass the virus on to a more vulnerable person like an older relative.

Parents must ensure children are washing their hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds to minimise the spread of coronavirus. If they venture outside for daily exercise, be strict about them keeping at least six feet away from anyone outside of the household.