Changing admission patterns in paediatric emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Andrea Scaramuzza, Francesco Tagliaferri, Lorenza Bonetti, M Soliani, Francesco Morotti, Simonetta Bellone, Claudio Cavalli, Ivana Rabbone

2020Archives of Disease in Childhood91 citationsDOI

Abstract

On 20 February 2020, so-called Italian Patient 1 was admitted to the intensive care unit of his local hospital due to a deteriorating clinical condition from SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. In Italy, COVID-19 originated from a handful of small towns in northern Italy that were swiftly placed into lockdown. Lockdown of Milan, Venice, Rimini and their provinces and neighbouring towns and cities followed on 8 March and the whole of Italy on 9 March, when the ‘#stayhome’ (#iostoacasa) executive order was issued. This order remained in place until after Easter, with all public gatherings banned and travel only allowed for ‘urgent, verifiable work situations and emergencies or health reasons’. As of 30 March, 101 739 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Italy. This number includes the deceased (n=11 591) as well as those who have recovered …

Topics & Concepts

MedicinePandemicCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Northern italy2019-20 coronavirus outbreakMedical emergencySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Public healthExecutive orderUnit (ring theory)Intensive care unitOutbreakPediatricsEmergency medicineVirologyNursingIntensive care medicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseasePolitical scienceMathematics educationPathologyLawBusinessEuropean unionEconomic policyMathematicsCOVID-19 and healthcare impactsCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesCOVID-19 Impact on Reproduction