May 22, 2020

large UCL-led review of screening studies delivers evidence on whether children get the virus more or less than adults

Children and young people appear to be less likely to catch SARS-CoV-19 than adults according to new research,  but evidence remains weak on how likely children are to transmit the virus to others, as detailed in a new preprint study.

The findings emerge from a large UCL-led review of global test and tracing and population screening studies. Researchers say the findings provide further evidence on children’s susceptibility to COVID-19, and the data will be important for governments making decisions about school reopening and easing lockdown restrictions.

The findings have been submitted to a journal and will be published on pre-print server within days. This paper is a preprint and has therefore not yet been peer reviewed. However given the current debate on re-opening of schools the authors were keen to discuss their findings with the science and health journalists.

Speakers will include:

Prof Russell Viner, Professor of Adolescent Health at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

Prof Chris Bonell, Professor of Public Health Sociology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

Dr Rosalind Eggo, Assistant Professor and infectious disease modeller in public health epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

This briefing was accompanied by an roundup of comments