Reports of infected children mark new stage in spread of coronavirus

Experts said the rising number of cases of novel coronavirus infection among children shows the spread of the pandemic is entering another stage, and called for care and precautions to protect children.

"The disease transmits among humans regardless of age," said Yi Wenlong, professor and chief physician of pediatrics at Tianyou Hospital in Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province. "Young or old, all who haven't been infected are susceptible to the virus."

Yi spoke of susceptibility to the novel coronavirus in response to the emergence of infections among children.

A six-year-old child was diagnosed with the new pneumonia in Guangzhou on Monday, and a nine-month-old infant was confirmed with the infection in Beijing on Sunday. In Shanghai, one child with the infection was reported on Wednesday, according to local health authorities.

The total number of children infected nationwide was unclear as of press time.

Yi said that in the first stage of the epidemic, the virus was transmitted mostly in the workplace and outdoors, and since the majority of activities for children take place indoors, few cases of infection in children were reported.

"Now as the epidemic spreads to families, children become susceptible when an adult family member gets infected," he said, adding that the treatment measures for children are the same as for adult but with reduced doses of medicine, depending on their physical condition.

Zhang Wenhong, director of the infectious disease department at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, said in a previous interview with Shanghai Television that the relatively small number of cases of children with the infection didn't mean children were not susceptible to the virus.

"Chinese parents are prone to be overprotective of their children, which has reduced the risk of children being exposed to the disease," he said. "It is also possible that due to children's weaker immunity, symptoms in the infected children are not showing.

"But I advise parents to pay attention to their children and not to take them traveling around. This is very crucial."

Zeng Guang, a member of a high-level expert group with the National Health Commission, warned of the possible spread of the epidemic among children and young adults, and suggested staying home is an effective protection.

The State Council, which is China's Cabinet, postponed the opening of the spring semester for schools nationwide from kindergarten to university in a notice issued on Sunday.

"The exact date of the opening of spring semester will be announced by education authorities," it said.

Liu Kun in Wuhan contributed to this story.