Earlier this month, it emerged that the Omicron strain had caused a record increase in pediatric cases of Covid in the US, UK and parts of Europe.

The United States has also seen a record increase in the number of children hospitalized with the virus, with Texas Children’s Hospital – the country’s largest pediatric hospital – confirming that Covid hospitalizations have quadrupled in recent weeks.

The hospital’s chief pathologist, Dr Jim Versalovic, said CNN he had already seen “staggering numbers here of this Omicron surge,” mirroring a recent announcement from the American Academy of Pediatrics that more than 325,000 pediatric cases had been detected in the United States during the week ending December 30.

This represents a 64% increase in new cases in children compared to just a week earlier, the hospital’s co-director for vaccine development, Dr Peter Hotez, also telling CNN that if Omicron appeared to be causing symptoms less serious, some research has indicated that it could cause upper respiratory problems that could be riskier for young children.

“This account that this is just a mild virus is not correct,” Dr Hotez said.

“… Even though there is a lot of cheerful talk about the Omicron variant, a less serious disease, when you add all the factors together … we are facing a very serious situation in this country, especially for children.” . “

Childhood cases are also exploding in Europe, with more than 500 children hospitalized with Covid in England in the week ending December 26.

Statistics from the UK Office of National Statistics also show that 117,000 children are living with long-lasting symptoms of Covid long after their initial infection has passed.

With children returning to school after the Christmas break as cases skyrocket overseas, some teachers are turning to extreme measures to keep young students – and themselves – safe.

According to CNN, many keep classroom windows open during the harsh northern hemisphere winter to try to prevent transmission, with educators “frequently checking carbon dioxide monitors while teaching.”

Australians divided academically

Australia has so far not had the level of Covid cases and hospitalizations seen elsewhere, and several global studies, including Australian research, indicate that transmission in schools tends to be lower or at least roughly equal to transmission rates in the community.

We have also become a world leader in our immunization rate, with 94.7% of people over 16 having received at least one dose as of January 9.

Australian Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly stressed that the vast majority of children were not at risk, saying that “of the different variants that we have seen, it (Omicron) has been much less severe in children.”

And a detailed study of the data from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network during the Delta outbreak in 2021 revealed that at least one in five Covid-positive children had no symptoms, while only one in 85 was admitted to hospital for medical treatment and “more children were hospitalized for social reasons than for medical care “.

But the alarming situation abroad has been seen by some as a red flag as the bitter debate over our plan to reopen schools rages on.

Australian Federal, State and Territory leaders will meet on Thursday to discuss a national approach to getting students back to class safely, after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sparked a backlash by announcing that schools in his state would push back their start dates by two weeks, starting Jan. 24. to February 7 to avoid the expected Omicron peak.

But 35 of Australia’s top medical experts, including former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth and Professor Catherine Bennett, have taken the extraordinary step of calling on the government to send the children back to school on schedule.

“In the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, we now have proof that it is safe to allow schools to be opened for face-to-face learning,” the panel wrote in an open letter to the national cabinet.

“The national cabinet’s commitment to reopen schools is however under threat and must be reaffirmed by every jurisdiction, with steps taken to reassure Australian families that schools can return safely.

“As such, we call on all federal, state and territorial governments to reaffirm their commitment to return to in-person schooling without delay for Quarter 1 2022.”

The letter also downplayed the health risk posed by Covid to children.

“Our Australian data confirms that Covid-19 is a mild illness in children, that the few hospitalizations are short-lived and that the overwhelming majority of children recover from this virus without adverse effects,” it read.

Last week, the education union insisted that the well-being of students and teachers should be a priority in the plan to reopen.

“There are major challenges facing schools across the country due to the Omicron wave of the pandemic,” said AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe.

“These include resources, occupational health and safety, return to face-to-face learning, management of staff shortages and access to appropriate and consistent testing and testing protocols in the field. probable case of exposure to the virus. “

The union calls on the government to give teachers priority access to RATs and PCR tests and to develop isolation protocols for staff shortages.

It comes as children between the ages of five and 11 became eligible for Covid vaccines on Monday before the start of the school year – although parents immediately reported frustrating issues with the jab rollout due to issues with it. supply, which has seen many canceled appointments.

– with NCA NewsWire