Covid-19: is the English variant of the virus more contagious in children?

In recent weeks, theappearance of a new form of the coronavirus in England iworried. The reason is the fact that it seems more contagious than the other variants of the virus responsible for Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, the number of cases having greatly increased in the regions where it is present. It also seems to affect young people more than others. While at least one case has been detected in France, we are answering your questions about the contagiousness of this new strain in children.

A variant of the virus that spreads faster

Early data on the coronavirus variant suggests it is more contagious. This is what independent studies by Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Edinburgh show, says a report du Nervtag, a group of specialists and advisers on emerging respiratory viruses in the UK, released after an extraordinary meeting. Indeed, this form of the virus which prevails mainly in London, in the south-east in the east of England has seen its numbers increase considerably and rapidly. By mid-November, it accounted for 20% of positive Covid-19 tests in these areas, a figure that rose to 70% a month later, says theOffice for national statistics (U.S).

A form of the coronavirus which would be more contagious in young people

The new variant of the coronavirus “seems, and I emphasize the word seems, to be more contagious in young people and children”World Health Organization (WHO) expert David Nabarro told SkyNews. The increase in the number of positive tests is particularly evident among those under 24, according to the ONS. In children under 10, the positivity rate has doubled since December 1, which suggests that this form is more infectious in children.

According to experts, the English variant would be more contagious because it has adapted to better find attach to our cells, and more particularly the ACE-2 receptor. Nevertheless, it must be confirmed and determined how it spreads faster in children than other forms, this receptor being less present in young people.

Will schools reopen later in the UK?

This information worries the National Education Union (NEU), a national education union. The strongest contagiousness among children prompts him to demand that the start of the school year after the Christmas holidays be postponed by at least two weeks in the UK, reports the Guardian. The government should take a position on the issue and announce its decision in the coming days. In any case, there is no need to panic, as it does not seem to trigger more serious forms and would react the same as others to the Covid-19 vaccine.