Aim To investigate the factors associated with the duration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) RNA shedding in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Methods A retrospective cohort of COVID‐19 patients admitted to a designated hospital in Beijing was analyzed to study the factors affecting the duration of viral shedding. Results The median duration of viral shedding was 11 days (IQR, 8‐14.3 days) as measured from illness onset. Univariate regression analysis showed that disease severity, corticosteroid therapy, fever (temperature>38.5℃), and time from onset to hospitalization were associated with prolonged duration of viral shedding ( p <0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that fever (temperature>38.5℃) (OR 5.1, 95%CI: 1.5‐18.1), corticosteroid therapy (OR 6.3, 95%CI: 1.5‐27.8), and time from onset to hospitalization (OR 1.8, 95%CI: 1.19‐2.7) were associated with increased odds of prolonged duration of viral shedding. Conclusions Corticosteroid treatment, fever (temperature>38.5℃), and longer time from onset to hospitalization were associated with prolonged viral shedding in COVID‐19 patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Neonates, particularly preterm neonates, were exposed to numerous invasive painful procedures without appropriate analgesia in hospitals in China. The potential long-term impacts of poorly treated pain in neonates call for a change in pediatric practice in China and in countries with similar practices.

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