COVID-19 incidence, hospitalizations and mortality trends in Croatia and school closures

COVID-19 pandemic affected majority of students worldwide because school closures were one of the first and frequently taken measures in tackling epidemic. This study analyzed trends in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality from the beginning of pandemic in Croatia, in relation to schools opening and clo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public health (London) 2021-09, Vol.198, p.164-170
Main Authors: Simetin, I.P., Svajda, M., Ivanko, P., Dimnjakovic, J., Belavic, A., Istvanovic, A., Poljicanin, T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Age groups
Child
Child, Preschool
Closures
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Croatia - epidemiology
Elementary schools
Epidemics
Holidays & special occasions
Hospitalization
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Joinpoint regression
Morbidity
Mortality
Original Research
Pandemics
Regression analysis
Retrospective Studies
Return to school
SARS-CoV-2
School closures
Schools
Secondary schools
Statistical analysis
Trends
Winter
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Summary:COVID-19 pandemic affected majority of students worldwide because school closures were one of the first and frequently taken measures in tackling epidemic. This study analyzed trends in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality from the beginning of pandemic in Croatia, in relation to schools opening and closing. Retrospective data review. Data on COVID-19 positive patients in Croatia from week 9 of 2020 to week 10 of 2021 in Croatia were analyzed using joinpoint regression. Analysis also included hospitalizations and mortality trends for age groups 26 to 65 and 66+ from week 30 of 2020. Schools opened in fall after the summer holidays in week 37. Joinpoint regression analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in cumulative incidence rates of COVID-19 in all age groups until 50th week, except in the 19–25 age group which saw an increase until 49th week. During the period of increase, there were periods of moderate increases and rapid increases in incidence that were present between 39/41 week and 43/44 week in all age groups except in those 0–6 years [from 40th till 43rd week in age groups 7–14 and 15–18, average percentage change (APC) = 87.41, P = 0.035, and APC = 83.47, P = 0.013; from 39th till 43rd in 19–25, APC = 91.90, P = 0.002; from 40th till 44th in 26–65, APC = 74.79, P 
ISSN:0033-3506
1476-5616
DOI:10.1016/j.puhe.2021.07.030