The coronavirus has changed the world as we know it. In the span of just a few weeks, we’re seeing and doing things much differently. Rightfully so, because for the most vulnerable among us, their lives depend upon it. Yet in the middle of this chaos, there has only been a limited focus on perhaps the most vulnerable group among us: children.
From a medical perspective, the effect of the pandemic appears mixed. We know that children aren’t immune to the coronavirus, but they’re also not the most at-risk demographic. In a recent study of early cases in China, fewer than one percent of all infections were children under the age of 10. However, newer research shows that babies and toddlers appear to be at higher risk of developing more severe symptoms than older children. Kids with preexisting medical conditions are also more vulnerable, but by all counts, this isn’t like the H1N1 virus – this isn’t considered a children’s disease.
Yet the threat to children goes well beyond falling sick from the virus. This pandemic has real consequences for many of West Virginia’s kids. Some of these are immediate.
For children living in poverty, or with substance-using parents or guardians, isolation in stressful, sometimes unsafe environments can be dangerous. Early indicators from around the world show significant increases in domestic and child abuse as families are forced to stay home. We know that school plays a critical role in establishing a place of stability for these kids. Moreover, teachers often serve as the one stable adult in children’s lives. Perhaps no less important are the roles teachers play in spotting early signs of abuse. Now, many children have lost that security.
**Simon F. Haeder is an assistant professor of public Policy in the School of Public Policy at The Pennsylvania State University. Kelli Caseman is the executive director of Think Kids, a West Virginia-based nonprofit.
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