How at-risk are school-aged children when it comes to the Delta variant?

EDMONTON — The 2021 school year off will start off with much higher active COVID-19 case numbers in Alberta compared to this time last year.

Many school boards opting to keep a mask mandate in place for the start of the year.

But what do we know, about the delta variant and kids?

That’s one of the reasons Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced the province was delaying the end of testing, tracing, and isolating until after the school year starts.

“In the U.S. unfortunately, hospitalization rates in children have begun to rise. Most significantly in states with lower vaccination,” said Hinshaw back on Aug. 13.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) confirming to CityNews, out of the 244 hospitalizations reported on Tuesday, only one was a pediatric patient — maintaining that hospitalization for those under 18 is still uncommon.

“In the younger age group, hospitalization and getting seriously ill is extremely rare,” said Dr. Chris Sikora, the Edmonton Zone Medical Officer of Health, AHS.

“I think it’s inevitable we’re going to see a rise in cases related to schools,” said Dr. Jim Kellner, a pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at the University of Calgary.

Kellner reminds that the COVID symptoms in kids haven’t changed with the delta variant becoming the dominant strain.

But the research around the delta variant that suggests it’s more contagious.

“We know from information from Ontario, that it seems children with the delta variant are about twice as likely to be admitted to hospital,” said Kellner. “So it may be a thing that is causing more significant disease.”

But how likely are kids to be admitted to hospital?

“Kids are really unlikely to end up in hospital, in the Alberta context, about one in 200 will be admitted, so that’s a really low percentage,” Kellner said.

Though he does say there is an exception.

Babies less than a year old have a higher risk of hospitalization from COVID-19.

Reminding as we head indoors for fall — to keep hand washing, making when in crowds, and staying home when sick, and if you can, getting vaccinated.

“The more people who are vaccinated, the less virus is circulating in the community, and the less likely you are to infect someone, less likely it is to mutate into variants.”

But Kellner says with any kid who is sick, to touch base with your family doctor if it seems out of the ordinary.