Two leading epidemiologists said today, Tuesday, that there are tentative indications that children may not transmit the emerging coronavirus like adults, but they caution that human immunity may not last long.
With Europe and the United States trying to return to work after the first wave of the virus outbreak, world leaders are seeking to determine when children and students can return to their studies safely.
Dr. Rosalind Ego, a member of committees that advises the British government on how to deal with infectious diseases, told members of the House of Lords of the British Parliament that evidence indicates that children may not transmit infection like adults.
"We believe that children are less susceptible to infection with the Corona virus so far, but this is not certain. We are very sure that children are less susceptible to its serious consequences and there are signs that children are less transmissible to infection, but this is not certain," said Ego of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
John Edmonds, a member of the British Scientific Consultations Group, told the House of Lords scientific committee that it is amazing that children seem to play little role in the outbreak of the new Corona virus.
Edmunds, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, added: "It is unusual for children to have little role in transmitting infections because they play a major role in most of the viral and bacterial respiratory diseases, but they do not seem to do so."
He continued: "There is only one outbreak linked to a school - and that is amazing," but he added that there might have been unpleasant news, that human immunity resistant to the emerging coronavirus might not last for long.