Policies on children and schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Western Europe

This narrative review synthesizes epidemiological data and policy analyses regarding SARS-CoV-2 mitigation measures targeting children in Western Europe. The authors searched PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library in February 2023, prioritizing recent and less bias-prone studies. Key findings include that children under 20 represented 23% of COVID-19 cases in high-income countries but only 0.1% of registered deaths, and a UK review found a mortality rate of 2 per million in children when distinguishing deaths caused by COVID-19 from incidental infections. The review notes that direct country comparisons are limited by differing timelines, patterns of infection, lockdowns, and school closures, and that key epidemiological data disaggregated by age have been difficult to obtain. The authors conclude by emphasizing the importance of evidence-based medicine principles when implementing public health measures on children and the need for continued research on risk factors, diagnostics, and treatment.