Covid-19 deaths in children and young people in England, March 2020 to December 2021: An active prospective national surveillance study (8 November 2022)

Summary

Deaths from Covid-19 are rare in children and young people, and the high rates of asymptomatic and mild infections complicate assessment of cause of death in this group. This study assessed the cause of death in all children and young people with a positive Covid-19 test since the start of the pandemic in England. The authors concluded that:

• Covid-19 deaths remain extremely rare in CYP, with most fatalities occurring within 30 days of infection and in children with specific underlying conditions.
• Covid-19 was responsible for 1.2% of all deaths in <20 year-olds in this period.