Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak

The symptoms of COVID-19 are different for everyone but may include:

• fever
• sore throat
• cough
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• body aches
• loss of taste and/or smell

For some people, the symptoms may feel like a bad cold or flu. Others, especially adults with other health conditions, may have severe respiratory symptoms that could progress to pneumonia. Some patients require hospitalization and breathing assistance.

In addition, if your child exhibits any of the symptoms that could be related to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (see below), always call your pediatrician.

Although many people have mild to moderate symptoms, COVID-19 can be life threating to you and those around you. Older adults and those with pre-existing health problems (such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer) are at increased risk of getting very sick. Currently, there is no way to determine who will experience more severe disease and require medical attention.

Children are less likely to experience severe symptoms. However, COVID-19 may cause other illnesses such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome. The vaccine is the best way to prevent these illnesses in all ages.

To help slow the spread, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking everyone to take some important steps, including:

• Get Vaccinated: As of September 2021, everyone 12 years of age and older is eligible for the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, and the most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to prevent hospitalizations and death.
• Wear a mask: Wearing a face mask is still important to protect you and others. You should wear a face mask indoors in public places regardless of vaccine status. Although the virus does not spread as readily outdoors, we recommend wearing a mask if you can’t maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or if you are in close proximity to others with unknown vaccination status. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has. Learn more about improving how your mask protects you.
• Practice physical distancing: Outside your home maintain six feet of distance between yourself and people who do not live in your household. It is possible for a person to spread the virus even if they are not showing signs or symptoms of illness.
• Practice good hand and respiratory hygiene: Be sure to wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use alcohol based hand rub especially before eating. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because the virus can enter through those areas. Always remember to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Prevent the spread by staying home if you are sick.

The vaccine is the most effective way to keep those around you safe.

If your child (or anyone else in your family) has any symptoms, you’ll need to stay at home and avoid being around other people. If possible, keep your child in a room where they won’t have contact with other family members or use common household items. Many grocery stores, restaurants, and pharmacies are now offering contactless deliveries.

COVID-19 continues to be a rapidly changing situation. The CDC COVID-19 website offers the most up-to-date information.

The New York State Health Department website also has state-specific information about COVID-19 and links to many helpful resources for families. For specific questions about your child, contact your doctor's office.

During this challenging time, children and parents may be feeling a lot of stress. Learn how to cope with the stresses caused by changes to your daily routine, worries about your health and well-being, and worries about the health of family members. Learn more here!

Want to learn more about COVID-19? Watch a recording of one of our free parent webinar sessions!

• COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: November 2021

• Back to School Parent Webinar - August 2021

• COVID-19 - Information for Parents (from May 13, 2020)

• COVID-19 - Information for Parents #2 (from June 11, 2020)

• Mental Health (from July 7, 2020)

• Staying Healthy this Fall (from August 31, 2020)

• Healthy Holiday Season (from November 11, 2020)

• Healthy 2021 & Vaccine Information (from February 3, 2021)

• Tips for a Healthy Spring (from May 19, 2021)

Many families would like to know if their child has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. Antibody testing, also called serology testing, is a simple blood test that can determine if antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are present in the blood. Antibodies develop usually weeks after the body has been exposed to the virus so antibody testing is not a test for active infection.

Although antibody tests are currently available through many commercial laboratories, at this time BCHP does not recommend routine antibody testing for all patients. There are a number of reasons for this decision, including:

• Since COVID-19 is such a new illness, we don’t yet know if the antibodies will protect a child from getting COVID-19 again. For some illnesses, antibodies offer life-long protection, however, in other cases, antibodies offer only limited protection, or even no protection, against future infection.
• If the antibodies do offer protection, it is also unknown how long that protection will last.
• There are many misleading results from antibody tests for COVID-19. A negative test does not rule out past infection, and a positive test does not mean that a child is immune to COVID-19. Essentially, neither a positive test or a negative test will change behavior recommendations.