NORFOLK – While children are not as susceptible to severe cases of the coronavirus, they can be asymptomatic carriers of the virus. That’s why a CHKD pediatrician is begging families to keep their children and teenagers home.
“Your teenager or child can spread it to someone who could get very ill,” said Dr. Natasha Sriraman.
“We have adults who have heart disease and lung disease. We have children who have heart disease and lung disease. And these are the people, these are the patients, that can get very ill,” she stressed. “But unfortunately we are seeing adults getting COVID-19 who have no underlying medical conditions.”
Dr. Sriraman is urging families to take the stay at home orders seriously after learning some sleepovers and play dates were still occurring in the Hampton Roads community. She said not adhering to social distancing is putting everyone at risk, especially healthcare workers.
“As a pediatrician, and my husband’s an ICU doctor, and we are asking everyone, we are begging everyone to stay home,” she said. “I know it’s difficult. I know it’s hard. I have three kids myself. I know it’s hard to stay home and entertain them, but this is public health. An individual action has a community impact.”
