A mum has described the traumatic experience watching her two young children recover from COVID-19 and is warning other parents to be vigilant.
Bettina Rowley, who lived in Queensland for 11 years and now lives in Germany, had to be isolated in the hospital with five-year-old Charlotte and three-year-old Frederick after they tested positive.
She said in a Facebook post her children randomly got high temperatures and dry coughs. Both active children, she said it was strange for them to both get sick at the same time - so they were taken to get checked.
"At the pediatrician, we called in and with all precautions taken took a test.
"The doctor came out in full protective gear to test them."
Two days later, the tests returned positive results. Rowley has no idea how her children caught the virus.
"They were still in kindergarten before the whole shutdown happened here. Who knows if it's from there? Daycare, schools, it's just a breeding ground," she told the ABC's 7:30 programme.
"I've been thinking maybe I brought it home from the shops. We can't explain it.
She's now warning other parents to take COVID-19 seriously.
"It is important to listen to the health professionals and look after your families now," Rowley told ABC Australia.
Rowley said on Facebook her children's experience highlighted the importance of staying home.
"We are very grateful the way we are looked after," she wrote.
"Nobody really has too many answers though as we all are still learning about this virus."
Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne infection and immunity research lead Professor Andrew Steer said children make up about 4 percent of Australia's COVID-19 cases.
"Because the disease appears to be mild in children, it may be actually that there are more cases in children," he told 7:30.
Rowley's children are now back home having recovered from the virus.
