CoVID-19: Parent and caregiver concerns about reopening New Zealand schools

Aim Children generally have a milder CoVID-19 disease course and better prognosis than adults. Many countries have closed schools as part of measures to limit transmission and this has had a considerable impact on children world-wide. This includes New Zealand (NZ), where rates of CoVID-19 have been very low. The aims of this study were to investigate parents' and caregivers' knowledge of CoVID-19 in children, to understand their levels of concern and to identify their most trusted sources of information. Methods Participants were recruited via NZ parenting support and interest groups on . Knowledge was assessed by way of a self-administered questionnaire during the 10 days prior to NZ schools reopening on 18 May 2020. Results Of the 1191 study participants, 721 (60%) expressed some level of worry (14.5% very or extremely worried) that their child would catch CoVID-19 at school. A high proportion (79%, 941) thought it likely or very likely that their child would catch CoVID-19 at school if there were to be widespread community transmission. Fear scores for CoVID-19 were generally high, and 828 (80%) of participants said they would vaccinate their child if a newly developed vaccine were available. Conclusions Parents and caregivers were generally fearful of their children acquiring CoVID-19 at school. This was despite messaging from multiple trusted sources that transmission in schools is unlikely, and the number of NZ CoVID-19 cases being extremely low. These findings have implications for policy development and public health messaging both in NZ and in countries with ongoing community transmission of CoVID-19.

Automated summary

Despite reassurances from multiple trusted sources that transmission of COVID-19 in schools is unlikely and the low number of cases in New Zealand, parents and caregivers still express high levels of concern about their children catching the virus at school.