The trend of paediatric cases during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in children in North Sumatra Province during the period June 2020 to July 2021. Methods: This study included samples from children in North Sumatra Province aged 0-17 years, suspected to have COVID-19. A case of COVID-19 was confirmed by RT-PCR in the Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia. Data were collected from June 2020 to July 2021. Demographic data including age, sex, and date of diagnosis were collected. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and ratios or percentages were compared. Results: A total of 117 650 people were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and 2222 (1.9%) children were positive. The age group 6-11 years had the highest proportion of cases with 679/2222 cases (30.6%). Overall, the number of positive COVID-19 cases peaked in July 2021, with 650 cases and a positivity rate of 3.0%. In 2020, the greatest proportion of cases occurred in the age group of 12-14 years; however, this changed to the age group 6-11 years in 2021. Conclusions: COVID-19 was detected in all paediatric age groups in North Sumatra during the study period. Incidence peaks occurred due to mass gatherings, public holidays, and the introduction of a new variant in Indonesia. Children accounted for a much higher proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those reported in other studies and could have played a role as the source of transmission in society.