COVID-19 through the eyes of our children |19 March 2020

As we, adults, preoccupy ourselves over the health and economic impacts, statistics and shortages linked to COVID-19, our children are listening and observing our reactions. They are actually following the basic rules for not getting infected and we asked them three questions to see how alert and concerned they are:

1. Do you know about coronavirus/COVID-19?
2. How do you feel about it?
3. What are you doing to protect yourself?

The answers come directly from their pure little hearts. Let us learn more from our younger generation!

Ellie Laporte, 10 years: Coronavirus, well about this virus which is COVID-19 means I have to stay at home and not to be in public places. I feel afraid and worried about COVID-19 which is affecting my country. To protect myself I have to wash my hands and sanitize it very often.

Alex Andrews, 13 yrs: Corona is a disease that gives you respiratory problems. You need to wear a mask and wash your hands regularly. I am not coming to town with my dad because there is corona in town!

Sasha Andre, 9 yrs: Yes, Coronavirus is deadly and it’s very scary. I am protecting myself by staying at home and washing my hands repeatedly and using sanitizer.

Jade Chiara Alexandri Ballaram, 8 yrs: Yes, l am a little scared and we don’t go to school, and I am scared for my grandparents. To protect myself l wash my hands by counting 1 to 30. I eat many fruits and vegetables and finally I am not kissing my friend.

Ilhaan Beavogui, 10 yrs: It is a dangerous virus. We need to use a mask, hand sanitizer, put long clothes and we can’t touch other people. If you do get corona you can die...I am afraid and scared if I get the virus and I don’t want to get it..no no no! To protect myself, I am staying inside my home with my sisters and parents. I am not going outside to play nor to the shop. I do not want anyone to come to our home and get access to our family!

Kishan Legras, 11 yrs: Coronavirus/COVID-19 is a genetic mutation between a bat and a snake!..It’s very scary and I am sneezing and coughing using my elbows and also washing my hands properly.

Raizel Brioche, 8 yrs: Yes I do know about the virus and I feel sad and scared that it will come to my family. I am putting hand sanitizer, washing hands as a routine and I stopped touching my face.

Evan Brioche, 10 yrs: Of course I know about it. I am quite brave and I am not scared about it. But I am washing my hands a lot and using hand sanitizer and avoid touching dirty things and avoid going to crowded places like school.

Morgane Joanno, 12 yrs: Yes - corona/COVID-19 is a new virus that attacks your respiratory system. COVID-19 means coronavirus disease that was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.... It's scary because it's very contagious and can be deadly to older people and babies... To protect myself I wash my hands regularly, I avoid crowded places and I always keep a sanitizer and tissues at hand.

Joshua Francoise, 8 yrs: I cannot go out to play with my friends because of coronavirus. Corona is something that kills and gives you diseases. When you are talking to someone and you are very close, you can catch the coronavirus. I don’t like this feeling and I feel weird. I am scared of it. To protect myself I wash my hands, wipe with a tissue and use sanitizer.

Reuben Edmond, 12 yrs: I have learned that the coronavirus is a very bad disease that kills people. It is contagious. I’ve learned about the disease through news on TV and my friends at school. They make funny jokes about it, but this is not funny. I always carried a small sanitizer in my bag even before the outbreak of the disease so I’m still using it. I stay home as the ministry has advised and I do not go roaming around.

Pearl Rose, 10 yrs: It is a disease that you can get by getting contact with an infected person. I’ve learned about it on radio, television and information from parents and friends. I wash my hands frequently using hand sanitizer and I do not touch my face until I wash my hands first.

Reanno Etheve, 6 yrs: Coronavirus comes in the heart to make the human sick. The doctors will give a cure and it will die in the sun and turn into dust. To kill the virus you use soap to wash your hands, dry them and then put sanitizer.

If you get the virus, you will be dead. Everyone is in their house waiting for the virus to leave. I am confused about this virus as it is spreading everywhere in the town.

Elyana Gappy, 9 yrs: Corona virus is kind of an infection that can infect you. And if you are sick and you have it, you can die. But sometimes you have to protect yourself by washing your hands and not eating your nails. Keep yourself clean, don’t go to other people’s house for two weeks and stay away from them. I think it’s a bad thing as it can make you sick. I am scared of it as I want to protect myself; if I have it I do not want to leave my family.

Compiled by Vidya Gappy