Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2020 Dec;27(3):180-183. 10.14776/piv.2020.27.e23.

Children with COVID-19 after Reopening of Schools, South Korea

• Kim EY
• Ryu B
• Kim EK
• Park YJ
• Choe YJ
• Park HK
• Jeong EK

• KMID: 2511820
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2020.27.e23

Abstract

Purpose
To describe pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases after the reopening of schools in the Republic of Korea and their transmission routes.
Methods
All case report forms and epidemiologic investigation forms for children aged 3–18 years reported as COVID-19 cases to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System from May 1 to July 12, 2020, were reviewed.
Results
After the schools were reopened in May 2020, a total of 127 pediatric COVID-19 cases were confirmed until July 12. Of these, 59 children (46%) were exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 through family and relatives, followed by 18 children (14%) through cram schools or private lessons, 8 children (6%) through multi-use facilities, and 3 children (2%) through school.
Conclusions
The present data do not suggest an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission in the context of stringent school-based infection prevention measures introduced across the country.

Keyword

Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Child; Schools