Isolated cranial nerve 6 palsy in 6 patients with COVID-19 infection

Emerging data suggest the central nervous system (CNS) complications of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occur with greater frequency than related coronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (1). A large, retrospective report from Wuhan described neurological symptoms in 36.5% of patients (2). We previously reported 2 cases of cranial nerve–related complications of COVID-19 (3). During the peak of COVID-19–related hospitalizations and fatalities in New York City, 2 additional cases of isolated sixth nerve palsy presented in an outpatient and inpatient setting.