Response Guidelines for Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Newborn Infants: A 2021 Update

Abstract

Since the first report of neonatal case on March 29, 2020, a small number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in newborn infants have been reported in Korea. The COVID-19 pandemic in Korea has urged the development of response guidelines for newborn infants born to mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. These guidelines have been revised following further updates on COVID-19. The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and the Korean Society of Neonatology issued updated guidelines for COVID-19 in newborn infants on December 31, 2020. The present review introduces the management of newborn infants born to mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, based on current updated guidelines for COVID-19. The management includes infection precautions for healthcare workers, neonatal resuscitation, neonatal isolation and medical care, breastfeeding, testing for COVID-19, and mother/baby contact.