Japan Sees Surge in COVID-19 Cases Among Children Under 10... Household Transmission Identified as Cause

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The number of children under 10 years old infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is increasing in Japan.

On the 6th, based on announcements from various local governments, Yomiuri Shimbun compiled the infection status by age group and found that as of the 4th, the total number of infected children under 10 was 242. This accounts for about 1.5% of all infections.

The first infections of children under 10 in Japan were identified on February 21, with one resident in Hokkaido and one returnee from Wuhan, China, totaling two cases. Until the end of March, the total number of infected children under 10 remained below 30, but the number surged last month, reaching 100 on April 12 and over 200 on April 25. In the metropolitan areas, 63 cases were reported in Tokyo and 22 in Osaka Prefecture, indicating a higher number of child patients in urban regions.

Yomiuri Shimbun reported that with prolonged school closures, many cases of household infections have occurred where young children contract the virus from parents who go out to work or other activities.

Hiroyuki Moriuchi, director of the Japan Pediatric Society and professor at Nagasaki University, stated, "Although children are not at high risk even if infected with COVID-19, there have been reports of infants becoming severely ill in Japan," and advised, "If noticeable symptoms appear, consult a doctor."