44 Trends in Pediatric Emergency Department Acuity and Trauma During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic March 11, 2020 by the WHO. Adult health care systems faced tremendous challenges in volume and acuity; however, morbidity and mortality among children is low and pediatric emergency departments (EDs) have been spared the same challenges. Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 patients and efforts to curb disease transmission affected health care delivery in the United States causing negative effects on the delivery of routine primary care, the closures of schools, the implementation of shelter-in-place orders, and the cancellation of typical activities for children.