Italian children and teenagers account for over 10% of COVID-19 cases

Rome, November 19 (RHC)-- The latest report by the Italian Pediatrics Society highlights that 12 percent of COVID-19 infections, or about 126,000 cases, in Italy are children or teenagers.

The study, based on monitoring data from the Higher Health Institute, has found that over 36,000 patients were under 10, while around 90,000 were in the 10-19 age group.  The report stressed that the fatality rate was extremely low and that the vast majority only manifested minor clinical forms of COVID-19.

A study carried out by Rome's University of La Sapienza has found that, in some parts of Italy, the number of infant deaths at birth tripled under lockdown.  This is due to the fact that most health checks were canceled or postponed.

The study has also found that the number of premature newborns went down considerably during the lockdown months compared to the year before.

Meanwhile, Italy's hospitals are facing overwhelming pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.  Health authorities fear that there will be more COVID-19 patients in need of intensive care by the last week of November than during the spring peak.