Delayed access or provision of care in Italy resulting from fear of COVID-19
Marzia Lazzerini
Egidio Barbi
Andrea Apicella
Federico Marchetti
Fabio Cardinale
Gianluca Trobia
Published:April 09, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30108-5
During Italy's national lockdown for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), official hospital statistics in the period March 1–27, 2020, show substantial decreases—ranging from 73% to 88%—in paediatric emergency department visits compared with the same time period in 2019 and 2018 (figure). Similarly, family paediatricians widely report a considerable reduction in clinic visits, although this is difficult to measure precisely.