Diffusion of COVID-19 among children and adolescents during the second and third waves of the pandemic in Italy

Abstract

This paper explores COVID-19 diffusion among children and adolescents (up to 19 years old) in Italy using the publicly available data that were collected and released by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS). We consider in more detail the so-called second and third waves of the pandemic in Italy and explore the relationship between schools opening and the diffusion of COVID-19, which is a highly debated topic in the recent reference literature. We analyse the dynamics of COVID-19 incidence in the country as a whole and in its individual regions. Moreover, we compare the regions in which different levels of restrictions were imposed during the pandemic as well as different school closure calendars. We found there to be a significant correlation between the dynamics of the COVID-19 infections among young people in Italy and school closures during both the second and the third waves of the pandemic.

Conclusion: Specifically, we found school closures to have mitigated the spread of the infection, especially among patients between the ages of 14 and 19.

What is known: • The relationship between the opening of schools and the diffusion of COVID-19 is a debated topic. • SARS-CoV-2 diffusion among school-aged adolescents is almost twice as that among children. • SARS-CoV-2 is a mild disease for infants and children.

What is new: • We analysed original data on the diffusion of COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Italy. • We calculated incidence of COVID-19 with reference to school-age classes and compared over time in the whole country and in the regions of Italy. • We analysed incidence dynamics considering school closures and other restrictions imposed by the local and national authorities to limit virus diffusion.

Keywords: COVID-19; Correlation; Incidence; School closure.