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Mental health considerations for children quarantined because of COVID-19

Jia-Jia Liu, Y. Bao, Xiaolin Huang, Jie Shi, Lin Lu

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2020

690 participants · 704 citations

Abstract

Published Online March 27, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/ S2352-4642(20)30096-1 To control the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Chinese Government has implemented strict domestic quarantine policies. As of March 24, 2020, more than 80 000 individuals with COVID-19, and 690 000 individuals who have come into close contact with individuals with COVID-19 have been registered and quarantined, including a large number of children. This quick action has effectively slowed the spread of new cases of infection on both the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world. However, researchers have realised that such measures might have adverse psychological effects on children who are quarantined. For children who are quarantined at home with their parents or relatives, the stress caused by such a sharp change in their environment might be eased to some degree. However, children who are separated from their caregivers require special attention, including children infected with or suspected of being infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), who are quarantined in local hospitals or collective medical observation centres; and children whose caregivers are infected with SARS-CoV-2 or who have died from the disease and are thus under the care of social charity groups. These children might be more susceptible to mental health problems because of their higher risk of infection, and the grief and fear caused by parental loss or separation.…

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