COVID-19-i，covid—19

查看疾病控制和预防中心（疾控中心)关于统计数据、疾病传播和旅行建议的最新信息。

冠状病毒在美国疫情传播近两年，家长们每天都面临着关于该病毒的新问题。当然，每个人都关注儿童的安全，并密切关注全国各地病例数量的再次上升，这要归功于高度传播的德尔塔变种。

根据美国儿科学会(AAP)的数据，超过6767762名儿童被诊断出患有新冠肺炎病，他们占所有冠状病毒病例的16.9%。谢天谢地，孩子们很少经历新冠肺炎的严重症状AAP表示，根据各州汇编的数据，所有被诊断患有新冠肺炎病的儿童中，有0.1%至1.9%住院治疗。尽管一些儿童不幸死于这种病毒，但只有0%到0.03%的儿童冠状病毒病例是致命的。

RELATED:疾控中心刚刚放宽了学生社交距离的指导方针。这有多安全？也就是说，新冠肺炎的高度传染性意味着，即使是感染了轻度病毒的人，也可能会将其传播给可能会出现更严重症状或危险副作用的人。由于病毒仍在全国蔓延，公共卫生官员敦促父母采取预防措施，确保家人的安全。

以下是父母需要了解的关于新冠肺炎的一切，从它是什么到如何防止你的孩子感染。

What Is the Coronavirus?

根据疾病控制和预防中心(疾控中心)的数据，冠状病毒在蝙蝠、骆驼和猫等动物中很常见。但是七种被称为"人畜共患病毒"的变种可以从动物传给人类，然后从人类传给其他人类。这些疾病通常会导致从轻微到严重的呼吸道症状。

新型冠状病毒（新型冠状病毒)及其引发的疾病新冠肺炎是一种新型病毒（以前从未见过)。官员们已经追踪到这种新型冠状病毒来自中国武汉的一个海鲜和活体动物市场。疾控中心报告说新冠肺炎是一种冠状病毒，这让我

ans it originated in bats. It may have spread to another animal before making its way to humans—but that information isn't known yet. 

While experts still need to conduct more research, they say the current COVID-19 coronavirus has similarities to both SARS and MERS. New variants have also been emerging around the world.

• RELATED: All About Coronavirus Symptoms in Children and Infants

Travellers family wear masks to avoid transmission of coronavirus upon arrival at Terminal 2 of Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport in Roissy, France, on February 29, 2020. Travellers family wear masks to avoid transmission of coronavirus upon arrival at Terminal 2 of Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport in Roissy, France, on February 29, 2020. (Photo by Emeric Fohlen/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | Credit: Emeric Fohlen/NurPhoto via Getty Images

How the Coronavirus Spreads

Officials have determined that the novel coronavirus likely has animal-to-human origins, but it's spreading between people now. COVID-19 is mainly contracted through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing talking, breathing, singing, etc. These droplets can travel up to six feet, and they can become inhaled or deposited on the mucus membranes of those with close contact to the infected individual. That's why social distancing and wearing masks are key to preventing COVID-19 spread.

You might also catch COVID-19 by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. A March 2020 study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA, and Princeton University scientists suggests that the coronavirus can survive for three hours in the air, four hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, and two to three days on stainless steel and plastic.

The CDC confirmed that airborne transmission is also possible; this means people can get infected from small droplets and particles that linger in the air for minutes to hours. This mostly happens in "enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation," according to the CDC.

Along with the U.S., nearly every other country has confirmed coronavirus cases. Check out the CDC's live global map for updated information. 

• RELATED: 8 Ways to Decrease Your Family's Chances of Getting the Coronavirus

Coronavirus Symptoms in Kids and Adults

COVID-19 has caused widespread panic among parents—partly because its symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, and fever) are almost identical to influenza, says Miryam Wahrman, Ph.D., biology professor and director of the microbiology research lab at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, and author of The Hand Book: Surviving in a Germ-Filled World.

The CDC says that symptoms usually appear within two to 14 days of exposure to the virus. The coronavirus may look very similar to seasonal influenza, since both illnesses affect the respiratory tract. "The only way to differentiate is to do a clinical test," explains Dr. Wahrman. 

According to the CDC, common coronavirus symptoms include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Digestive issues (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
• Congestion or runny nose

The severity of symptoms will vary between individuals. Some people get severe respiratory distress that leads to death, while others have minimal side effects. Experts have also reported a strange disease called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) with ties to COVID-19 affecting children across the country. According to Kathleen DiCaprio, M.D., an infectious disease expert from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City, who helped develop the vaccine for the Ebola virus, "more severe cases seem to be in patients who are older and have pre-existing medical conditions."

• RELATED: New Research Shows Elementary Schools Are Unlikely to Cause COVID Surges

How Dangerous Is COVID-19?

Since COVID-19 is a new disease, unvaccinated people don't have any antibodies to combat it, according to Sharon Nachman, M.D., Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital. "If you're exposed, you most likely will get the illness." 

About 80.9 percent of people have mild symptoms. Around 13.8 percent have severe symptoms that require hospitalization, and 4.7 percent have critical symptoms that require intensive care. Severe cases of the coronavirus can cause respiratory distress and death, especially in older adults and those with compromised immune systems.

On March 18, 2020, the CDC issued a report looking at the first cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and found that while older patients are at a greater risk of dying and being hospitalized, nearly 40 percent of patients sick enough to be hospitalized were between ages 20 and 54. So while risk does increase with age, younger people are not immune.

However, parents might rest easier knowing that the coronavirus doesn't seem to impact babies and children as severely. Those that do contract the disease mostly have mild, cold-like symptoms (although severe complications are also possible). This might change with the emergence of new variants, however.

• RELATED: How to Help Your Kids Adjust When They Go Back to Daycare and School After COVID-19

Do Pregnant Women Need to Worry?

You may have heard reports about newborns who tested positive for the coronavirus. Many hospitals have even banned visitors—outside of one support person—during childbirth. Experts think that COVID-19 might pass from Mother to Baby through the placenta in certain situations, but evidence is pointing to SARS-CoV-2 not spreading through breast milk, which is why the CDC says it's likely safe for mothers infected with COVID-19 to breastfeed.

What's more, the CDC reports that pregnant women may suffer from more severe symptoms of COVID-19, so they should be extra diligent about following the precautionary measures outlined below.

• RELATED: COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy: Everything Parents Should Know

One thing pregnant people should do is discuss whether or not getting the COVID-19 vaccine is the right choice for them. Experts urge pregnant and lactating people get vaccinated and promising research is even pointing to antibodies passing on to babies.

How to Prevent Coronavirus

Vaccination is the best way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Other important safety measures include practicing social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and maintaining proper hand hygiene. "Wash your hands appropriately with soap and water as needed, which reduces your risk of picking up germs that cause disease," says Dr. Wahrman. It's especially important to wash your hands before eating or touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; Dr. DiCaprio recommends that kids sing "Happy Birthday" to hit the time mark.

Avoid contact with anyone exhibiting signs of illness. If you're sick, the CDC recommends staying home. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and disinfect your home frequently. Also get the COVID-19 vaccine when it's available to you.

• RELATED: This Is How to Wash Your Hands So You Don't Get Sick

We asked experts to answer a few other prevention questions for parents, and here's what they had to say:

Is there a coronavirus vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccines from drugmakers Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are the first to be authorized for distribution in the U.S. and rollout has begun. Though some Americans—namely health care workers, essential workers, and some of the high-risk population—received their shots first, the majority of the country is now eligible for vaccination. Indeed, the FDA approved Pfizer for emergency use in kids 5 years and older, and they're expected to extend eligibility to younger kids in the near future. Moderna is also planning to apply for emergency approval for kids ages 12-17 soon.

• RELATED: Everything Parents Need to Know About the Coronavirus Vaccine

Should my child wear a face mask?

The CDC has released recommendations urging those 2 years old and up to wear face masks in an effort to slow COVID-19 spread, especially since it can be transmitted by those with no symptoms at all. The CDC updated their guidance with new information: Wearing a mask can not only help to protect others from coronavirus transmission, it can help protect you as well.

"Adopting universal masking policies can help avert future lockdowns, especially if combined with other non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing, hand hygiene, and adequate ventilation," the CDC said.

The organization previously stated that vaccinated individuals don't need to wear face masks in most situations, indoors or outdoors, except when required by law. Now, with the rise of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the CDC is recommending that vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas with "substantial or high transmission" of the virus.

• RELATED: How to Make DIY Hand Sanitizer That's Safe for Kids

How is America dealing with the coronavirus?

WHO, CDC, and state health partners are taking every effort to control the disease. Here are a few steps that have been taken:

• President Joe Biden unveiled a new national coronavirus response plan that included mask-wearing policies, fixing vaccine distribution issues, travel restrictions, and ramping up testing.
• Medical organizations around the world have been working on vaccines, treatments, and testing options. COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson were the first to be approved for emergency use in the U.S. and every American 5 and up is now eligible to receive a vaccine. Younger children might receive approval within the next several weeks.
• Pfizer became the first vaccine to receive full FDA approval in August 2021.
• Vaccine booster shots are being recommended for certain individuals, which should help combat waning vaccine immunity over time.
• The CDC advises that all unvaccinated travelers avoid global and domestic "nonessential travel," but has released new guidance saying fully vaccinated individuals can travel while taking precautions like wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing their hands often.
• After closing in March 2020 and introducing a mix of virtual, hybrid, and in-person education for the 2020-2021 season, data is now pointing to schools being safe to reopen again. The Biden administration is following CDC guidance on how to do that safely. The CDC also recommends that students, teachers, and staff wear masks in school.
• For unvaccinated people, the CDC recommends the use of cloth face masks in public settings where social distancing might be difficult. Vaccinated people should wear masks indoors where COVID-19 transmission is high, thanks to the Delta variant. President Biden is mandating masks be worn on federal property, and on public transportation—including on airplanes, buses, and trains.
• Coronavirus testing is now available across the country.
• Americans with potential exposure have been asked to get tested three to five days after exposure—even if they don't show symptoms. "You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative," advises the CDC.
  "You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive."

What to Do If You Think You Have the Coronavirus

Do you have fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19? The CDC
"recommends that anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional."

• RELATED: Coronavirus Prevention Tactics: How to Get Kids to Stop Touching Their Faces

There is currently no recommended treatment regime for the novel coronavirus. Your health care provider will inform you on next steps, but the CDC suggests treating the illness similarly to the flu. You should get lots of rest and fluids, take fever-reducing medication, and use a humidifier.