The age groups more affected by SARS-CoV-2 in children and the role of schools in the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel - January 2020-March 2021 The age groups more affected by SARS-CoV-2 in children
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Abstract
We analyzed data from a serological study performed on 2,765 samples from the Israeli National Sera Bank (INSB), established in 1997 in the Israel Center for Disease Control (ICDC) collected from children aged 0-<16 years during January 2020-March 2021. Trends in seropositivity rates to SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated using Joinpoint within specific age groups and compared to educational institutions activity. Seropositivity rates increased significantly in the 0-<6 and 12-<16 years age groups and were parallel in the 0-<6 years age group and partially parallel in the 12-<16 years to educational institutions activities. Non-significant increase in seropositivity rates were observed in the age groups 6-<10 and 10-<12 years. Apparently, exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in children was driven not only by educational activities but also by other factors.
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