Schließungen von Kindertagesstätten und SARS-CoV-2-Ausbreitung: Eine regionale Analyse zu einer Lockdown-Maßnahme

Background: On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared SARS-CoV-2 a pandemic. In the absence of specific vaccines or effective antiviral therapies at the beginning of the pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were widely implemented, including temporary closures of day-care centers (Kitas). Methods: Using routinely reported case data from the Landshut Health Authority, we analyzed the period from November 2020 to February 2021. SARS-CoV-2 incidence before and after Kita closures was assessed for children aged 0-5 years and for the general population using an interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) with a negative binomial regression model. Results: Following Kita closures, reported SARS-CoV-2 infections decreased in both children aged 0-5 years (IRR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99) and the general population (IRR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95-0.98). Conclusion: These findings suggest that temporary Kita closures were associated with a reduction in reported SARS-CoV-2 infections and may have influenced pandemic transmission dynamics. However, potential socio-psychological impacts of Kita closures on children should be considered when evaluating NPIs and incorporated - without presupposing direction of effect - into preparedness planning for future pandemic events.