What You Need to Know About the Delta Variant and Kids

For parents of young children, the easing of COVID restrictions was a much-needed reward after a long year of virtual learning, working from home, and social distancing.  But now there is another obstacle ahead of us, the Delta variant, and it has some parents re-evaluating their comfort levels and rethinking their summer plans.

It’s easy to get lost in all the noise of COVID coverage and wonder how to filter out exactly what you need to know to keep your family safe (and sane). So we’re breaking down everything parents need to know about the Delta variant and how to navigate it. 

How dangerous is the Delta variant for kids? 

First, let’s start with the bad news. The Delta variant is considered 50% more contagious than the Alpha variant and is spreading easier and faster than past strains of COVID-19. Whereas experts used to classify an “exposure” as being less than six feet apart from someone with a diagnosed COVID-19 infection for fifteen minutes or more, Delta can be transmitted in less time because of the increased viral load carried by infected people. 

But that’s not a reason to panic. More than 4 million children have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and the vast majority of those cases have been mild. The upshot is that while it may be easier to get the Delta variant, it remains a relatively mild illness in children, especially those younger children who have not yet received the vaccine.

While children are still considered at lower-risk for severe illness or complications from Delta, it is still important to assess your family’s overall risk factors when thinking about whether this variant will change your precautions or not. 

How can I protect my kids?

The most important thing to do is be sure that everyone in your household who is eligible to be vaccinated gets vaccinated. Vaccines are safe and effective. Even though breakthrough infections have been reported with Delta, they are still less frequent and typically do not lead to severe illness or hospitalization. We know that vaccines minimize the impact of COVID-19 and help people avoid complications. 

It’s also a good idea to continue wearing masks when out in public, especially indoors. Other than vaccines and masks, the same precautions we've been taking since the beginning still apply here - handwashing, being mindful of touching your eyes/nose/mouth, and giving people space are still great ways to keep us all safe. 

Finally, there are now rapid tests available, which are a great additional protection mechanism, especially if you have adults in your family who are more likely to be exposed frequently. The FDA-approved rapid test from Abbott – BinaxNOW COVID-19 home test is a rapid antigen test that’s self-administered with results available in 15-20 minutes. You can buy it at your local pharmacy or online.

Should I take my kids to stores or to visit relatives?

Since the rates of community spread and vaccination rates vary drastically in different parts of the country, it is hard for experts to give one-size-fits-all advice for parents (which is frustrating). When thinking about your family’s individual circumstances it’s important to consider the following:

• Your mental health: it has been a long, hard year for everyone, even our kids. If an outing to visit a relative or trip to Target will make everyone happy, then you may want to consider it. 
• How is the spread in your community? If the rates of infection are low in your area, and the vaccination rate is high, this may help you make decisions about what risks are worth taking.
• Are the adults vaccinated? If you’re debating a trip to visit grandparents, the risk for vaccinated adults is still very, very low. If your family has additional health concerns or someone is immuno-compromised, this may affect your decision-making. 
• Can you take it outside? If there is an upcoming party or event you’re particularly worried about, or you’ve been itching to have a playdate see if it can happen outdoors. With the benefit of fresh air and more room to spread out, being outdoors may be your best bet this summer. 

What about sending my kids to daycare or school? Should I be worried? 

We know that schools and daycares have not been major sources of community spread and that teachers and child care providers have done a great job of keeping kids safe. When it comes to attending in-person school or daycare, there are a number of benefits. Young children learn through play and interaction with their peers and caregivers, and their mental health is also important.

Emily Oster, economist and author told Winnie, “We have, at this point, a tremendous amount of data showing that schools and child care centers can be operated safely even in circumstances with higher COVID rates. We’ve also seen good evidence of the importance of in-person schooling for kids and their families over the last year. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t worry -- we always worry -- but the data really does suggest that schools can operate safely, and this is reflected in CDC recommendations.”

If your child has additional risk factors or your community has an especially high transmission rate, it can’t hurt to discuss your child’s individual situation with their pediatrician.