We've lived with coronavirus (COVID-19) for a while, and have learned a lot about the virus and how to protect ourselves from it. Key steps include:
Adults and kids can get infected. In children, the virus sometimes causes a mild illness, or no symptoms at all. But some babies and children have gotten very sick from the virus, sometimes weeks after becoming infected. Some children have died from it. Kids under age 2 can't wear masks, and kids younger than 6 months old can’t get a COVID-19 vaccine. So it's important to protect them in other ways.
Coronavirus can spread when people breathe, talk, cough, or sneeze. This is true even for people who feel fine and have no symptoms — they can still be infected and not know it. When someone wears a mask, it keeps the virus from reaching other people if they are infected, and also protects them from catching the virus from others.
Masks are no longer required in most public places in the U.S., but it’s still a good idea for people to wear them, especially when indoors or in crowded outdoor settings, if:
Mask guidelines can change based on the rates of COVID-19 in a community at any given time. For now, people should always wear masks in a health care setting, if they have COVID-19, or if they have been exposed to it.
Babies and toddlers under 2 years old shouldn't wear a mask because:
You can protect your little one by avoiding large crowds and keeping a safe distance from other people when out of the house.
To help stop the spread of the virus:
Yes. Doctors' offices have taken steps during the pandemic to keep patients safe. These include regular deep cleaning, limiting the number of people in waiting areas, screening people who enter the building, and requiring masks for anyone over 2 years old.
When you call, ask the staff what they're doing to keep patients safe so you can be prepared. For example, they may allow only one parent or caregiver to go with the child.
Stay in touch with your child's doctor about:
Call 911 right away if your child might have a health emergency. Signs include your child turning blue, not breathing, being very sleepy or hard to wake up, or being unconscious.
Reviewed by: Mark T. Ogino, MD, Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date Reviewed: Aug 20, 2022