Children: the first to go out. Are we really ready?

Finally came the first stage of deconfusion, but it is being very controversial. It is going to be able to remove the children from home but it seems that not even the Government itself is very clear: that if until the age of 12, then 14, which according to the opinion of the experts, from 15 onwards they can go out alone to do tasks like shopping, etc. It seems that the latest version is that following recommendations from the General Directorate of Services for Families and Children, they will allow short walks of up to three children with an adult in periods of one hour.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has made a statement regarding the impact of the pandemic on children. He expressed concern about countries in a state of confinement or a state of alarm. Among other things, it affirms that the restrictions must be proportional, minimal and limited in time. A daily outing should be contemplated, supervised and maintaining social distance, not staying in crowded and precarious homes, and of course avoiding exposure to physical or psychological violence, etc.

Silent Carriers

The first question we ask ourselves is whether children can have COVID. According to most experts, they can get the virus, but it is rare that they have the disease and its clinical manifestations. Even rarer is that they develop a severe infection or die from it. The cases of deaths reported worldwide in children are very few. It has been seen that even in the immunosuppressed, which would be logical to think that they are more predisposed, they have not been the target of the disease either, although logically all precautions are also taken. Premature newborns seem to be an exception and they could develop more severe symptoms. Childhood appears to be a protective factor in this pandemic, but the reasons are still unknown.

This is a double-edged sword as it makes children asymptomatic carriers perfect with ability to infect others or adults, such as their parents or grandparents, being able to develop the severe version of the disease. Obviously, none of us want to endanger our elders and we must wait a reasonable time before they see their grandchildren so that we can do so in complete safety.

Possible upturn in cases

Misrepresenting children is not an easy matter. It seems that what is allowed will be to take short walks to accompany the adults to the supermarket or pharmacy and that so breathe fresh air, outside the four walls they have been on. But that is not what they want. Logically the little ones want to get together with their friends and go play in the park, on the swings or have a soccer game.

Let's see who explains that it won't be possible? The places where they meet would be the perfect breeding ground of asymptomatic carriers of the virus with the ability to spread and produce a rebound in new cases. Nor is it what parents want. As you can read on social networks, a general comment says that: "it is preferable to leave them at home than to accompany you to the purchase, it seems that they have taken the measure on purpose."

In other countries

The international situation varies according to the circumstances of each country and the intensity of the pandemic. Italy will release these accompanied by an adult to take small walks, France and Germany will open educational centers with limitations regarding the number of children in each classroom at the beginning of May. As everyone knows, in Italy there is a general approval and in our country it seems that there will be no return to the classroom. Yes the evaluations will be maintained, but repeating the course will be something exceptional.