The COVID-19 infection is grouped together with the same family of viruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of the common cold.
And as the pandemic is slowly turning into an endemic, we have all the more reason to learn ways about the virus and how it can affect us. This is particularly true for millennial parents and expecting mums who would have multiple concerns running through their minds right now.
But remember, knowledge is power and you too can beat this pandemic turned endemic by taking the necessary precautionary steps. So, if you were wondering if you’re the only one with lots of questions around Covid-19 and fewer answers, don’t fret, you aren’t the only one.
Several millennial parents and parents to be raised similar questions. So, to help parents better understand COVID-19, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions in theAsianparent Community. And answering these questions is the UNICEF and WHO among other experts.
1. Should Parents Fear Coronavirus Infection?
Spread through direct contact, respiratory droplets like coughing and sneezing, and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, the Coronavirus infection can be easily transmitted, which makes it a super-spreader.
Image source: Stock
However, in more comforting news although it is definitely possible for people of any age to be infected with the virus, children have been least affected by it.
While the virus does affect kids, there has been a lower number of fatalities when compared to adults. It’s not exactly known why the virus has been kind to the group of society. However, an expert in the field suggests it may be because of differences in the immune responses of children over adults. Children generally have a more robust immune system and so recover faster, even if infected.
In fact, one of the fastest recoveries from COVID-19 in Singapore is the case of a one-year-old baby who was discharged from the hospital just two days after testing positive for the infection.
But this is no reason at all for parents to be complacent when it comes to keeping their kids safe from the virus.
2. Can Pregnant Women Infected With COVID-19 Transmit The Virus To Her Unborn Baby?
A study performed on nine women in Wuhan, China, reported that the infection does not seem to be naturally passed on from pregnant women to fetuses during pregnancy. The study reports that amniotic fluid, breastmilk and cord blood, do not seem to be automatic transmission routes for the virus.
Although there was a case of a newborn baby testing positive for the virus just 30 hours after birth in China in February 2020. That being said, experts say there isn’t definite proof about the mother-to-baby transmission in-utero.
However, there hasn’t been conclusive research on how the virus affects early pregnancy. The study took into account women who were all in the third trimester of their pregnancies.
If a pregnant woman contracts the coronavirus infection, the same measures, medical management and care as for anyone who tests positive with COVID-19 will be a given. Doctors will closely monitor her situation during the course of the infection.
3. Can You Breastfeed If You Contract Coronavirus Infection?
UNICEF says mothers “can continue breastfeeding their children while applying all the necessary precautions” to avoid transmission of the illness. It took into account the benefits of breastfeeding and that breastmilk is a very insignificant route of transmission in other similar respiratory illnesses.
Is it safe for a mother to breastfeed if she has the COVID-19 coronavirus infection? | Image source: iStock
This includes wearing a mask when you are in close contact with the child. You need to do so during feeding, washing hands before and after contact with the child and disinfecting exposed surfaces.
In case a mother is too ill to breastfeed because of COVID-19 infection, encourage her to express milk while following the same infection prevention methods. You can feed the child using a clean cup, spoon, or bottle.
If expressing breast milk with a manual or electric breast pump, the mother should wash her hands before touching the pump or bottle parts. Make sure to clean/disinfect pump parts thoroughly after use.
4. Should I Keep My Child Home?
Millennial parents take note. It’s best to keep your child in class as long as they aren’t displaying symptoms such as a fever or cough.
In fact, this applies to most day-to-day activities such as attending birthday parties and playing outdoors. In an address to the public on February 8, 2020, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans to “stay calm, and carry on with our lives.”
But it is not without reminders to take necessary precautions to keep your family safe from the virus.
A medical worker in a hazmat suit is looking after the baby, who has been diagnosed with coronavirus. | Image source: Handout, Wuhan Children’s Hospital/Weibo
Health and safety tips to keep in mind during the pandemic turned endemic
1. Practice regular hand-washing especially after travel, being outdoors, using public transport, and before meals. Speak to your children about the importance of frequent hand-washing for a period of 20 seconds or more. Wash all areas of their hands and rub their fingernails too. Always use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
2. Advice your family to avoid touching their faces with their hands, in particular their eyes, noses or mouths. This is especially important they haven’t washed their hands.
3. Wear medical masks in the event of respiratory symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, and dispose of it responsibly. It is not necessary to wear a mask if you are not ill. Visit the doctor if you have a fever, cough or feel that it is difficult to breathe. It would be advisable to inform the doctor’s office ahead of your visit.
4. Avoid close contact with anyone presenting cold or flu-like symptoms. This includes coughing, sneezing or a fever, and always sneeze into a tissue or a flexed elbow.
5. Advice your children to avoid sharing food with their classmates during recess. This is to avoid the spread of flu and other infections during peak flu season.
6. Insist that your family use separate serving utensils during parties and other mass-scale events. Avoid dipping cutlery into the food to serve themselves.
With enhanced hand-washing practices and observing good hygiene, we hope your family stays safe from this dreaded virus.
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