Management strategy of Corona Virus Disease-2019 in quarantine zones outside hospitals: Analysis of 1232 cases from a district in Wuhan

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has evolved into a global pandemic in the early 2020. Management strategy outside hospitals of the suspected cases, close contacts and discharged patients might be as important as treatment in hospital. We analyzed information from 1232 cases at 14 hotels (requisitioned as quarantine zones) in Qiaokou district, Wuhan during Feb 8th to Mar 4th 2020. Abide by the unquarantine and hospitalization standard, 603 (48.94%) cases were released from quarantine zones; 540 (43.83%) cases were sent to hospital for further medical care. 89 (7.22%) cases remained on quarantine up to the end of the analysis. The reasons for cases sent to the hospital for treatment were either positive for COVID-19 nucleic acid test, progression in pulmonary CT scan, or aggravation of symptoms. 11/59 patients switched from negative to positive for nucleic acid test during stayed in quarantine zones after being discharged from the hospitals. In total, hospitalization and positive rate for COVID-19 nucleic acid test both decreased over time. The quarantine measures were important and played a pivotal role in identification of cardinal number, cutting off the transmission, reducing the scope of prevention and rehabilitation therapy. This protocol adopted in Wuhan provided countries worldwide with valuable experience.