Journal of the American Medical Association showed
that children under 10 accounted for just 1% of all
COVID-19 cases while adults in the 30-to-79 age
groups represented a whopping 87%. The WHO
found something similar in China specifically. And
older people who get the illness are more likely to
suffer a severe or fatal case. In this sense, COVID-
behaves a lot like seasonal flu: 70% to 85% of all U.S.
flu deaths and 50% to 70% of flu-related hospitaliza-
tions occur among people in the 65-plus age group,
according to the CDC. It’s possible that because of
some quirk of biology, children are less susceptible
than adults to COVID-19 infection; their cells may
be less hospitable to the virus, making it more dif-
ficult for it to replicate and spread in this popula-
tion, says Dr. Mark Denison, a pediatric infectious-
disease specialist at Vanderbilt University School of
Medicine.
That said, authors of a New England Journal of
Medicine article published in January note that
children may just be showing milder symptoms
than adults, making them less likely to seek medi-
cal care when they get the virus and thus less likely
to be counted. In any case, it seems that, at least
right now, kids are at relatively low risk. —J.D. and
Jeffrey kluger
‘I wouldn't
recommend
anything
beyond
routine
cleaning in
a typical
household.’
DR. RICK
MARTINELLO,
Yale New Haven
Health SystemSo if seniors are at risk, what should they do?
Not only are older adults likely to have weaker im-
mune systems, but they also have a higher like-
lihood of exposure to pathogens in general—
especially in residential senior facilities. In the
event of corona virus infection in such a facility,
seniors should avoid communal rooms and even
group meals, says Dr. Steven Gambert, director of
geriatrics at the University of Maryland School of
Medicine. Then there are the doctor’s-office visits.
People with multiple medical conditions typically
visit multiple specialists, and every such visit means
entering an environment that can be teeming with
viruses and bacteria. Dr. Teena Chopra, medical di-
rector of infection prevention and hospital epidemi-
ology at Wayne State University, advises older pa-
tients to postpone doctor visits that aren’t essential,
like ophthalmologist appointments or dental clean-
ings. Staying current on vaccines—especially those
for flu and pneumonia—can also be critical.
Finally, it’s important to remember that the
way COVID-19 presents itself in a younger person
is not always the way it presents itself in someone
who’s older. “Any reason you don’t feel the same as
you usually do should not be dismissed,” Gambert
says. —J.k.Will my insurance cover this?
For Americans, it’s complicated. The federal gov-
ernment has been covering initial coronavirus
testing, and tests will continue to be covered by
Medicaid and Medicare. But as testing expands to
academic and commercial labs, it’s likely they’ll
charge other patients. America’s Health Insurance
Plans, the insurance industry’s main trade group
says insurers will cover any “reasonable, medically
necessary” costs related to COVID-19, just as they
would for other medical conditions. That means if
you have a plan, the coronavirus test and other care
will likely be covered. However, patients will still
face all the regular complications of the U.S. health
care system, including surprise bills, restrictions
on doctors and high deductibles. That last point
is particularly key at this time of year: if patients
haven’t yet spent down their deductibles, which
for most people reset each January, they’ll have to
pay more out of pocket.
New York said it would require some insurance
companies to waive costs for testing, and law makers
and experts are urging more action. While the in-
surance trade group is “monitoring the situation,”
it has not recommended that insurers change their
policies to help people access COVID-19 care. So for
now, coronavirus is covered—or not— similarly to
other health needs. —abigail abramsShould I cancel my upcoming travel?
With more than 92,000 cases reported in dozens
9