Swiss children under age 10 are being told by government officials that they are now allowed to hug their grandparents as lockdown measures are slowly being loosened as more is being learned about the effects of the virus.
Daniel Koch, head of the Swiss infectious diseases unit, announced scientists “now know young children don’t transmit the virus,” and it’s “important for their well being” to allow grandparents to see their grandchildren.
“We are talking about brief contact with grandchildren, not get-togethers with the entire family, babysitting, or spending time with the kids outside the home,” he added.
Switzerland has joined several other European countries to begin easing lockdowns but is still not encouraging large family gatherings and still warns that older children and teenagers should stay away from the elderly.
After a six week shutdown, the Swiss government has taken the first step of a three-stage plan to reopen the economy, with hairdressers, garden centers, do-it-yourself stores, and tattoo studios reopening for business.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report from early April entitled “Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children,” says, “Although most cases reported among children to date have not been severe, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for COVID-19 infection in children and monitor for progression of illness, particularly among infants and children with underlying conditions.”
“COVID death rate will likely settle into the 0.25%-0.4% range (1 in 250 people infected to 1 in 400). Far from 20 times higher than flu,” former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson said about the virus. “Meanwhile, the median age of death is 78-80. And unlike the flu, #SARSCoV2 is basically not dangerous to children.”
5/ Add all this up, and the COVID death rate will likely settle into the 0.25%-0.4% range (1 in 250 people infected to 1 in 400). Far from 20 times higher than flu. Meanwhile, the median age of death is 78-80. And unlike the flu, #SARSCoV2 is basically not dangerous to children.
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) April 24, 2020
Almost 30,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Switzerland, resulting in just over 1,700 deaths.
