Berlin - According to a current analysis by paediatricians, the risk of corona infection in daycare centers and schools may be lower than assumed. This is shown by data from more than 110,000 children. Pediatricians from hospitals in Passau, Munich and Regensburg had routinely tested children and adolescents for SARS-CoV-2.

The results were available in advance to the Passauer Neue Presse. Accordingly, as of November 18, an average of only 0.53 percent of minors were infected. Since children often did not show any symptoms, the debate so far has often assumed that the infection rate among children and adolescents is significantly higher than the official statistics reflect.

"It is precisely this assumption that you now have to question," said the head physician at the Passau Children's Clinic, Matthias Keller. In the opinion of the doctors, the analysis comes “closest to a random sample”, since the majority of young patients went to a clinic because of other illnesses or injuries.

These figures support a new statement by the German Academy for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, the German Society for Hospital Hygiene and others, since it makes sense medically, infectiously and socially to keep the facilities open with the recommended hygiene measures.

"The responsibility rests with parents, carers, teachers and the entire adult population to protect their children and adolescents from infection and to enable them to visit community facilities through their hygiene-conscious behavior", according to the professional associations.

According to the societies, the school and daycare closings in spring have shown that day care centers, kindergartens and schools are of systemic importance for the psychosocial and psychomotor development of children and adolescents as well as their safety and integrity.

They are also important so that parents can do their jobs. Community facilities must therefore be kept functional for as long as possible by consistently adhering to the hygiene rules.