Toddlers and kids may be more likely than teens to pass on COVID-19 to family members

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-08-17 01:00

International

Younger kids were more likely than teenagers to pass on the COVID-19 virus to caregivers and siblings in a large study of 6,280 Canadian households. Kids aged three years and under had 1.43 greater odds of infecting others within their household than did teens aged 14-17. Some evidence suggesting children aged 4-8 and 9-13 were more likely to infect family members was also found - but to a lesser extent than toddlers. The authors say these results have implications for preventing infection in homes, childcare, and schools.

Media release

From:

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Research JAMA, Web page Public link after embargo lifts

Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Public Health Ontario, Canada; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada; University of Toronto, Canada; The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada

Funder: This study did not have a direct funding source but was supported by Public Health Ontario.

Media Contact/s

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.