Pediatric COVID-19 Cases Pre- and Post-Lockdown in Italy

* Abbreviation: COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 In Italy, 15.8% of the residents are children <18 years old: specifically, 1.4% from 0 to 1 years of age, 4.1% from 2 to 6 years of age, 5.6% from 7 to 12 years of age, and 4.8% from 13 to 17 years of age. Fewer cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in children <18 years of age than in adults.1 However, recent data indicate that the number and rate of pediatric cases are steadily increasing. During the lockdown phase, the incidence of COVID-19 was underestimated in children because of a lack of widespread testing and the priority of testing given to adults and patients with severe illness, whereas, now, the testing of mild and asymptomatic cases is leading to an increase in confirmed cases. The objective of the current study is to evaluate, before school starts, the impact of … Address correspondence to Stefania Bellino, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. E-mail: stefania.bellino{at}iss.it