This is a brief report of 4 paediatric cases of COVID-19 infection in Malaysia Background: COVID-19, a coronavirus, first detected in Wuhan, China has now spread rapidly to over 60 countries and territories around the world, infecting more than 85000 individuals. As the case count amongst children is low, there is need to report COVID-19 in children to better understand the virus and the disease. Cases: In Malaysia, until end of February 2020, there were four COVID-19 paediatric cases with ages ranging from 20 months to 11 years. All four cases were likely to have contracted the virus in China. The children had no symptoms or mild flu-like illness. The cases were managed symptomatically. None required antiviral therapy. Discussion: There were 2 major issues regarding the care of infected children. Firstly, the quarantine of an infected child with a parent who tested negative was an ethical dilemma. Secondly, oropharyngeal and nasal swabs in children were at risk of false negative results. These issues have implications for infection control. Consequently, there is a need for clearer guidelines for child quarantine and testing methods in the management of COVID-19 in children.

This study highlights a survey on 5783 kindergarten teachers’ occupational commitment and its influencing factors in the socioeconomic context of China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through the WenJuanXing public online platform. Quantitative analysis results showed that kindergarten teachers’ occupational commitment was optimistic on the whole during this period, among which the affective commitment and the normative commitment were satisfactory, but the continuing commitment needed to be strengthened. The type of kindergartens, the personnel affiliation, the educational background, and the professional post of kindergarten teachers had significant impacts on their occupational commitment. The income reduction was negatively correlated with and predictive of kindergarten teachers’ occupational commitment. Anti-epidemic action and career confidence were positively correlated with and predictive of kindergarten teachers’ occupational commitment. Furthermore, anti-epidemic action, income reduction, and career confidence had joint predictive effects on kindergarten teachers’ occupational commitment. More related backgrounds and suggestions have been discussed.

LiNi0.5−xBaxMn0.5O2 (x=0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.08) samples were prepared by using a combination of co‐precipitation and solid‐state methods. All of the cathode materials were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of them show that we have successfully prepared the target materials, and Ba‐doping can keep the structure stable and lower Li/Ni cation mixing. In addition, Ba‐doping does not change the structure, the chemical states, or the morphology of LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2. The electrochemical properties of the samples were explored systematically by rate performance and charge–discharge tests at room temperature and high temperature. The performances of the cathode materials indicate that 5 mol % Ba‐doping of LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 can improve the capacity retention at 0.2 C by approximately 41 % and 13 %, at room temperature and 60 °C, respectively. in the range between 2.5 and 4.8 V. In addition, the 5 mol % Ba‐doped material shows better rate performances than that of the un‐doped material, especially at higher current densities. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscope (EIS) tests were used to analyze the reason for the improved electrochemical properties, which may be attributed to lower Li/Ni cation mixing, higher structural stability, lower polarization, and lower charge transfer resistance.

Objectives To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Hospital Sungai Buloh (HSgB), Selangor. Methods A retrospective, observational study was performed on children aged below 12 years diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between 25 January to 31 December 2020. Comparative analysis was undertaken between asymptomatic and symptomatic children, and a subanalysis on their caretakers’ COVID-19 status. Results A total of 1498 children were included – 48.7% Female, 51.3% male; mean age 5.6 years (Standard deviation (SD): 3.5 years). 82.3% were detected through contact tracing of positive family members or from the same household. 56.9% were asymptomatic. The most common symptoms reported were fever, nasal congestion/rhinorrhoea and cough. Symptomatic compared to asymptomatic children had higher reported comorbidities; low total white cell, absolute lymphocyte and absolute neutrophil counts; raised C-reactive protein and aspartate transaminase (p<0.05). Median duration of illness was 10 days (Interquartile range: 3 days). Overall outcome was good. Only 19 (8.2%) negative caretakers seroconverted prior to discharge. Conclusion Majority of the children in the state of Selangor experienced mild COVID-19 illness in 2020 and did not appear to be key drivers in the transmission of the disease.