Thank you Thomas! 1) children are underrepresented in current studies due to asymptomatic/mild disease that`s missed in symptomatic screening - true extend of susceptibility & transmission compared to adults not clear yet - but they can get #COVID19 & can transmit #SARSCoV2 1/6 https://twitter.com/ThomasAgoritsas/status/1297099089356750848

Even thought they might not be driving the pandemic based on what we know right now, they are part of community transmission & thus their role needs further investigation - by scientific studies & by including children of all ages in national testing algorithms 2/6

We have recently released a statement from the Society of Virology (German-speaking virologists) on this https://www.g-f-v.org/node/1326  Here we warn of the assumption that children do not play a role, & promote more proactive measures regarding schools & educational institutions 3/6

To safely open schools, a package of measures must be implemented, e.g. appropriate air ventilation in class rooms, masks, reduced class size, a mix of digital and in-person lessons, fixed epidemiological groups that don`t mix, quick & easy access to tests for kids & teachers 4/6

There will be without doubt positive cases in school this winter - but we can decrease the risk of further transmission, and we can decrease the risk of school closures if we prepare NOW. In my opinion, the more want schools to stay open, the more proactive we have to be 5/6

#Switzerland is not well prepared: Prevention measures vary between cantons & schools, no national strategy or guidance & worst, inconsistent testing of children <12 years @BAG_OFSP_UFSP We need a national strategy based on scientific data, accompanied by scientific studies 6/6