CHI Health: Increase in illness expected as kids return to school, temps drop

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Infectious disease experts with CHI Health say an increase in illness is expected as children return to school and temperatures drop.

Many returning to school remain unvaccinated from major illnesses spreading rapidly among close quarters.

“Infections are much less likely to go ugly in this group than in the older populations,” said Dr. David Quimby of CHI Health’s Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy. “That doesn’t mean it can’t, and it doesn’t, have any bearing on who they’re sharing that infection with if they get infected. They could bring it home to other folk, and unfortunately, not every child has a good immune system.”

Before kids across the nation began returning to the classroom, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amended to its COVID-19 guidelines.

The public is encouraged to test once they notice symptoms of COVID.

Quimby said patients with recent variants noticed their illness with pain in their throat and head.  These patients have also retained their smell more than those with previous variants.

People using at-home antigen tests to determine if they have COVID-19 are encouraged to retake a test if it comes back negative.

According to the CDC, people no longer have to quarantine if you are exposed.  Those who have been exposed to COVID-19 are asked to wear a mask for 10 days and test on day 5, especially if they are feeling symptoms.

Those who test positive, are asked to quarantine for five days and then mask for five more days.  If you must be around others during a quarantine period the CDC recommends that you wear a high-quality mask.

Schools and health care workers hope these changes will reduce the spread of COVID in classrooms.

If your child is sick, doctors encourage you to keep your kid home and monitor their symptoms.