Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 17, 2021

Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-Infected Children Attending Hospital with Non-COVID-19 Diagnoses, March 2020-February 2021

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  • A surveillance study conducted between March 1, 2020 and February 21, 2021 in the UK found that out of 1,427 pediatric patients admitted to the hospital, 80 (5.6%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, of which 52 (65%) had symptoms compatible with COVID-19, 16 (20%) were asymptomatic, and 12 (15%) were “unclear” because of overlapping symptoms between COVID-19 and a co-occurring illness. During months when schools were open (June, September-December), there was a 1.65-fold increase in the mean percentage of new asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections among admitted children compared to when schools were closed (March-May, July-August, January-February). 

Mann et al. (May 2021). Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-Infected Children Attending Hospital with Non-COVID-19 Diagnoses, March 2020-February 2021. Journal of Infection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2021.05.002