August 11, 2020

Effect of Social Distancing Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections in Children in Finland During Early 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

• An assessment of the immediate effects of COVID-19 national lockdown orders on pediatric emergency room visits and respiratory tract infections in Finland indicates that social distancing and other lockdown strategies slowed the spreading of common respiratory viral diseases and decreased the need for hospitalization among children. A major decrease in the rate of daily median pediatric emergency room visits was detected in both hospitals in the study during the nationwide lockdown compared with the study period before the lockdown. No pediatric cases of COVID-19 were found in participating hospitals during the study period. 

Kuitunen et al. (July 28, 2020). Effect of Social Distancing Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections in Children in Finland During Early 2020. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000002845