A child with the coronavirus has yet to be admitted to Upstate University Hospital, and doctors want to make sure it stays that way.

“If family units have been practicing the physical distancing that they are supposed to,” said Upstate University Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Stephen Thomas, "then that family unit should be OK.”

While children can get infected, their symptoms tend to be much less severe than adults.

”We know children can have mild infection,” said Upstate University Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Jana Shaw. “So even fever alone, cough alone. Sometimes it’s vomiting or diarrhea alone; all can be symptoms associated with children. Flu-like illness can be COVID-19 in a child.”

That’s why it’s so important that parents and guardians set a strong example and maintain strict practices.

“There are children that may have underlying chronic conditions like asthma, malignancy, or cancer. Those children would be vulnerable. Ensuring you are practicing social distancing, strict with hand washing, and covering your mouth when you are sick, are key to protect children,” said Shaw.

Guidelines from the CDC recommend wearing masks, but that doesn’t apply to everyone.

“Putting a mask on a person that can’t remove the mask is a bad idea. So kids [younger] than two and people who don’t have the physical ability to remove them,” said Thomas.

Mothers who are breastfeeding should continue to do so.