SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the upper respiratory tract of children and adults with early acute COVID-19

The role of children in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. We analysed viral load at the time of diagnosis in 53 children vs. 352 adults with COVID-19 in the first 5 days post symptom onset. No significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 RNA loads were seen between children and adults.