China

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020, the first non-influenza pandemic, affecting more than 200 countries and areas, with more than 5·9 million cases by May 31, 2020. Countries have developed strategies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that fit their epidemiological situations, capacities, and values. We describe China's strategies for prevention and control of COVID-19 (containment and suppression) and their application, from the perspective of the COVID-19 experience to date in China. Although China has contained severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and nearly stopped indigenous transmission, a strong suppression effort must continue to prevent re-establishment of community transmission from importation-related cases. We believe that case finding and management, with identification and quarantine of close contacts, are vitally important containment measures and are essential in China's pathway forward. We describe the next steps planned in China that follow the containment effort. We believe that sharing countries' experiences will help the global community manage the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying what works in the struggle against SARS-CoV-2.

Author/s:

China CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response Strategy Team

School closure and management practices during coronavirus outbreaks including COVID-19: a rapid systematic review

John Bayhi — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 16:24:59 +0000

Date Added:

April 23, 2020

Journal/Publication:

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

Publisher:

Elsevier Ltd

Publication Date:

April 6, 2020

Issue:

Volume:

Pages:

P397-404

URL:

School closure and management practices during coronavirus outbreaks including COVID-19: a rapid systematic review

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30095-X

Keywords

COVID-19

school

2019 novel coronavirus

2019-nCOV

school management

PMID (1):

32272089

MeSH

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Coronavirus Infections

disease outbreaks

China

Administrative Personnel

A review of what is known about closing schools to control coronavirus epidemics. Apparently it isn’t very helpful. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, 107 countries had implemented national school closures by March 18, 2020. It is unknown whether school measures are effective in coronavirus outbreaks (eg, due to severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS], Middle East respiratory syndrome, or COVID-19). We undertook a systematic review by searching three electronic databases to identify what is known about the effectiveness of school closures and other school social distancing practices during coronavirus outbreaks. We included 16 of 616 identified articles. School closures were deployed rapidly across mainland China and Hong Kong for COVID-19. However, there are no data on the relative contribution of school closures to transmission control. Data from the SARS outbreak in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore suggest that school closures did not contribute to the control of the epidemic. Modelling studies of SARS produced conflicting results. Recent modelling studies of COVID-19 predict that school closures alone would prevent only 2-4% of deaths, much less than other social distancing interventions. Policy makers need to be aware of the equivocal evidence when considering school closures for COVID-19, and that combinations of social distancing measures should be considered. Other less disruptive social distancing interventions in schools require further consideration if restrictive social distancing policies are implemented for long periods.

Author/s:

Viner, RM, Russell, SJ, Croker, H, Packer, J, Ward, J, Stansfield, C, Mytton, O, Bonell, C, Booy, R

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020

Brian Desmarais — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 15:08:15 +0000

Date Added:

April 7, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Publisher:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Publication Date:

April 6, 2020

URL:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020

Type:

Public Health Announcements

Format:

Web Page

MeSH

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Coronavirus Infections

Public Health Practice

Respiratory System

This is a summary of what we now know about COVID19 infections in children. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Data from China suggest that pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases might be less severe than cases in adults and that children (persons aged <18 years) might experience different symptoms than adults.

What is added by this report?

In this preliminary description of pediatric U.S. COVID-19 cases, relatively few children with COVID-19 are hospitalized, and fewer children than adults experience fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Severe outcomes have been reported in children, including three deaths.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Pediatric COVID-19 patients might not have fever or cough. Social distancing and everyday preventive behaviors remain important for all age groups because patients with less serious illness and those without symptoms likely play an important role in disease transmission.

Author/s:

CDC COVID-19 Response Team

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study

John Bayhi — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 17:29:39 +0000

Date Added:

February 14, 2020

Journal/Publication:

Lancet

Publisher:

Elsevier Ltd.

Publication Date:

February 15, 2020

Issue:

10223

Volume:

395

Pages:

507-513

URL:

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study

Type:

Clinical Research Results

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30211-7

Keywords

coronavirus

2019-nCOV

2019 novel coronavirus

pneumonia

China

PMID (1):

32007143

I thought you might want to see this information regarding the presentations of patients with the novel coronavirus. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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BACKGROUND:

In December, 2019, a pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) emerged in Wuhan, China. We aimed to further clarify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 2019-nCoV pneumonia.

METHODS:

In this retrospective, single-centre study, we included all confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital from Jan 1 to Jan 20, 2020. Cases were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and were analysed for epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and radiological features and laboratory data. Outcomes were followed up until Jan 25, 2020.

FINDINGS:

Of the 99 patients with 2019-nCoV pneumonia, 49 (49%) had a history of exposure to the Huanan seafood market. The average age of the patients was 55·5 years (SD 13·1), including 67 men and 32 women. 2019-nCoV was detected in all patients by real-time RT-PCR. 50 (51%) patients had chronic diseases. Patients had clinical manifestations of fever (82 [83%] patients), cough (81 [82%] patients), shortness of breath (31 [31%] patients), muscle ache (11 [11%] patients), confusion (nine [9%] patients), headache (eight [8%] patients), sore throat (five [5%] patients), rhinorrhoea (four [4%] patients), chest pain (two [2%] patients), diarrhoea (two [2%] patients), and nausea and vomiting (one [1%] patient). According to imaging examination, 74 (75%) patients showed bilateral pneumonia, 14 (14%) patients showed multiple mottling and ground-glass opacity, and one (1%) patient had pneumothorax. 17 (17%) patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and, among them, 11 (11%) patients worsened in a short period of time and died of multiple organ failure.

INTERPRETATION:

The 2019-nCoV infection was of clustering onset, is more likely to affect older males with comorbidities, and can result in severe and even fatal respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome. In general, characteristics of patients who died were in line with the MuLBSTA score, an early warning model for predicting mortality in viral pneumonia. Further investigation is needed to explore the applicability of the MuLBSTA score in predicting the risk of mortality in 2019-nCoV infection.

FUNDING:

National Key R&D Program of China.

Author/s:

Chen, N, Zhou, M, Dong, X, Qu, J, Gong, F, Han, Y, Qiu, Y, Wang, J, Liu, Y, Wei, Y, Xia, J, Yu, T, Zhang, X, Zhang, L