Hospital preparedness and management of pediatric population during COVID-19 outbreak

Kazzaz, Yasser M.; Alkhalaf, Hamad; Alharbi, Musaed; Al Shaalan, Mohammed; Almuneef, Maha; Alshehri, Ali; Alali, Hamza; AlHarbi, Talal; Alzughaibi, Nezar; Alatassi, Abdulaleem; Mahmoud, Ahmed Haroun; Aljuhani, Talal; AlSaad, Ahmad; Alqanatish, Jubran; Aldubayee, Mohammed; Malik, Amna; Al Amri, Asma; Al Shebil, Saleh; Al Onazi, Milfi; Al Mutrafy, Abdullah F.; Al Moamary, Mohamed S.

With the recent pandemic of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), there has been a higher number of reported cases in children more than to the prior Corona Virus-related diseases, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome and the Middle East respiratory syndrome. The rate of COVID-19 in children is lower than adults; however, due to high transmission rate, the number of reported cases in children has been increasing. With the rising numbers among children, it is imperative to develop preparedness plans for the pediatric population at the hospital level, departmental level, and patient care areas. This paper summarizes important considerations for pediatric hospital preparedness at the hospital level that includes workforce, equipment, supply; capacity planning, and infection prevention strategies, it also span over the management of COVID-19 pediatric patients in high-risk areas such as critical care areas, Emergency Department and operative rooms.