RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With kids heading back to school in Virginia, it’s not just lunches and homework parents need to be worried about — experts say they should also watch out for COVID-19.
According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), 6,727 Virginians tested positive for COVID-19 from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10, a 54% increase from the week before (4,275 cases). Hospitalizations are also up 9%.
“The percentage of emergency room visits that are for COVID-19 are increasing,” Dr. Elaine Perry, Director of the Richmond/Henrico Health District, told 8News.
However, for parents worried about their kids catching COVID-19 at school, doctors say there is some good news.
“Most COVID cases in pediatric populations are asymptomatic and mild, so the likelihood of a child getting COVID-19 and being hospitalized is low, and that’s very encouraging,” said Dr. Gonzalo Bearman, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at VCU Health.
Despite that, experts say there are still things parents should do to protect their children, including encouraging kids to wash their hands and keeping them at home when they experience COVID symptoms like a fever or cough.