September 8, 2020

Impact of Social Distancing and Travel Restrictions on Non-COVID-19 Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Young Children in Rural Alaska

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

• Hospitalizations of young children due to acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) dropped dramatically in April 2020 in rural Alaska, in contrast to the past 10 seasons, when the seasonal decline began in June. Among 26 seasons of data, no season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic season also had a four-week stretch with no ARI admissions, demonstrating the potential secondary benefits of physical distancing and travel restrictions.

Nolen et al. (Sept 5, 2020). Impact of Social Distancing and Travel Restrictions on Non-COVID-19 Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Young Children in Rural Alaska. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1328