The COVID-19 pandemic reduced paediatric emergency department visits but did not significantly increase urgent cases.

Austria partly spared its healthcare system from the catastrophic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with an early lockdown. This led to a marked decrease in visits to the paediatric emergency department (PED) at the Medical University of Innsbruck. The PED is the central point of contact for patients under the age of 18 with any health concerns, except trauma. Approximately 18,700 patients visit the PED per year and 17.6% are admitted to the hospital.