Hello 

Good morning and welcome to this week's Sunday newsletter.

Since Autumn 2020 we have been raising awareness amongst parents, caregivers, children & schools to provide up-to-date evidence-based knowledge that supports informed decision-making.

This week's newsletter at a glance.

• WHO updates its guidance - COVID is airborne.
• LCK fundraiser. LCK continues to push for objective measurement of air quality in schools
• New research supports LCK findings of neuropsychiatric symptoms following COVID infection
• Open letter to Gavin Williamson advocating safety measures in schools. 
• Children and COVID infection statistics for this week
• Global
• Why run Long Covid Kids? 
• Who we work with

What's new this week?

We are reaching more people with 9000 twitter followers and an 8000 page reach on Facebook. This week we feature on the new Canadian Long Covid website together with that of Zero Covid Alliance and The British Heart Foundation

New in the Awareness Pack this week:  

Updated statistics on COVID in children including school outbreaks; two LCK case studies; improved quick reference poster; details of barriers to research in children; links to a Long Covid leaflet and updated aerosol transmission slides

With your support, our joint efforts make a difference. 

Warm wishes

Sammie, Fran, Nathalie and Hannah

LCK Team 💚🧡💚

"COVID IS AIRBORNE"

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION 

Forbes writes:

Aerosol researchers started warning that "the world should face the reality" of airborne transmission in April 2020. Then in June, some claimed that it was "the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19". In July, 239 scientists signed an open letter appealing to the medical community and governing bodies to recognize the potential risk of airborne transmission. One of those scientists was Jose-Luis Jiminez who we continue to work with and features with LCK Founder Sammie on our LCK Youtube channel.

"On 30 April 2021, almost 10 months after WHO said it would review the research on airborne transmission, it finally updated its Q&A page with the following statement"

“Current evidence suggests that the virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with each other, typically within 1 metre (short-range). A person can be infected when aerosols or droplets containing the virus are inhaled or come directly into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can also spread in poorly ventilated and/or crowded indoor settings, where people tend to spend longer periods of time. This is because aerosols remain suspended in the air or travel farther than 1 metre (long-range).”

At last

Long Covid Kids team members have been following this situation since April 2020. This led to letters with MPs and conversations with James Graham in mid September. We now work with James as a consultant on our Awareness Pack and are all working hard behind the scenes to educate on and encourage use of CO2 monitors as a scientifically recognized safety measure as a layer of protection for schools and staff.

#LCKAIRCARE

RESEARCH

NUROPSYCIATRIC SYMPTOMS AFTER COVID-19 INFECTION

By Co-Founder Frances Simpson

 In the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in survivors of COVID. Badenoch et al. carefully analysed 51 studies reporting the prevalence of sixteen neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with post-acute, or “Long” Covid. These revealed insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and post-traumatic stress symptoms to be the most commonly reported by survivors of COVID-19 and there was little evidence that symptoms lessen in frequency as time passes after recovery from acute infection, or of a relationship between symptoms and severity of the acute COVID-19 illness.
 

Such neuropsychiatric symptoms have been noted by us in the paediatric community, and the paper produced by Pavone et al. (2021) presents the cases of two boys who were diagnosed with PANS after a COVID. infection. PANS (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) is a disorder affecting children and adolescents, which is characterised by a sudden development of psychiatric and neurological symptoms following infection. This paper suggests that there is a link between Covid and PANS, with much need for further research into this area. Read more about PANS on the resources page of our website. 

SCHOOLS UPDATE

100 TEST POSITIVE

The BBC reported on Thursday that a secondary school in the Midlands will stay shut until next week after more than 100 pupils and staff tested positive for coronavirus

The area is reporting a 5 fold increase in figures since last week

The Indian variant has now been categorised as a Variant Of Concern and has been found in Secondary Schools according to Public Health England

LONG COVID KIDS JOINS

70 SCIENTISTS AND MEDICS

IN WRITING TO GAVIN WILLIAMSON 

To: Mr. Gavin Williamson

We are extremely concerned at reports that the government plans to stop requiring children to wear face coverings in secondary school classrooms from 17th May in England.  We are not aware of any plans to lift face-covering requirements in relation to shops or transport, where people generally spend less time in close contact with large groups..........

We signed because we do not want other children to share our story.

Will you sign? 

We are being prepared for a third wave by our Prime Minister.

Lateral Flow Tests experiments are being conducted in schools 

The Indian variant is added to the list of variants of concern

Why some children become chronically sick and others don't is UNKNOWN.

It is no longer rare.

Caution is required with the health of our children

Long Covid Kids joins MPs, scientists, medics, parents and unions need to continue wearing face coverings as a mitigatory measure against SARS-CoV-2 in schools

Full letter available here

Further this week

Editor in Chief retracts published article regarding facemasks

due to misquoting and

"A broader review of existing scientific evidence clearly shows that approved masks with correct certification, and worn in compliance with guidelines, are an effective prevention of COVID-19 transmission"

Retraction

CHILDREN AND COVID INFECTION STATISTICS THIS WEEK

Data for England. Tested children only.

LCK GLOBAL 

Zero Covid Alliance talk Long Covid. We are pleased they are supporting our #LCKGlobal campaign asking families around the globe to stand together and share their experiences. 

MYTH BUSTING 

WHY RUN LONG COVID KIDS?

WHO WE WORK WITH 

 Long Covid Kids (LCK) is currently supporting projects with;

NIHR Long Covid Committee

NHS - National Health Service Long Covid Task Force

  NIHR - National Institute for Health Research Expert Group

WHO - The World Health Organisation Long Covid Forum

The APPG - Across Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)

ISARIC - International Severe Acute Respiratory & Emerging Infection Consortium

 APPG Fit and Healthy Child

Multiple Clinical Commissioning Groups

International Researchers 

International ZERO COVID Alliance

National Voices

Long Covid advocacy groups around the world including:

Wales, Ireland, Spain, Canada, USA, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Mexico

A number of leading children’s hospitals around the UK, and infectious disease pediatricians.

Fundraising CO2 monitors for schools with Safe Ed For All

LCK runs on goodwill.

Donations of time, skills, fund all gratefully received.