CAPE TOWN -
In a press conference on Thursday, Premier Alan Winde was joined by the Head of Paediatrics at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Professor Mignon McCulloch, explaining why the reopening of schools was in the best interest of the children.
The Western Cape Department of Health released data that as of June 5, there had been roughly 6 percent cases of people under the age of 20.
“I fully understand that parents are worried about the Covid-19 pandemic and how the reopening of schools might impact their child’s well-being.
“As a parent myself, I know that our number one priority is always the safety of our children,” said Winde.
A total of 1 787 patients make up 6 percent and the groups are broken down as follows:
5-9 years - 330 (18 percent)
10-14 years - 408 (23 percent)
15-19 years - 687 (38 percent)
“Children biologically contain SARS-CoV-2 better than adults, are less likely to get sick if infected, have milder disease, are unlikely to die from Covid-19, and are probably less infectious than adults.
“Considering that children are at lower risk of acquiring and transmitting SARS-CoV-2, as a group of paediatricians advocating on behalf of our patients, we are of the opinion that the benefits (educational, mental & psychological health, food security and safety) of getting most children back to school exceeds that of keeping them at home,” said Professor McCulloch.