Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease in Gansu Province, China, 2020

Abstract

To determine the epidemiology of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a remote region of China, far from Wuhan, we analyzed the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Gansu Province. From January 23 through February 3, 2020, a total of 35 (64.8%) of 54 reported cases were imported from COVID-19-epidemic areas. Characteristics that differed significantly during the first and second waves of illness in Gansu Province were mean patient age, occupation, having visited epidemic areas, and mode of transportation. Time from infection to illness onset for family clusters was shorter in Gansu Province than in Wuhan, consistent with shortened durations from onset to first medical visit or hospitalization. Spatial distribution pattern analysis indicated hot spots and spatial outliers in Gansu Province. As a result of adequate interventions, transmission of the COVID-19 virus in Gansu Province is decreasing.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; China; Gansu Province; SARS-CoV-2; Wuhan; coronavirus; outbreaks; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure 1

Location of Gansu Province and Wuhan, China. Circles indicate capital cities.

Figure 2

Population density of Gansu Province, China, in 2018.

Figure 3

Time series of coronavirus disease case identification in Gansu Province, China, 2020.

Figure 4

Key time-to-event distributions of coronavirus disease cases in Gansu Province, China, 2020. A) Incubation period (i.e., days from infection to illness onset). B) Days from illness to first medical visit. C) Days from illness to hospitalization.

Figure 5

Distribution of reported coronavirus disease cases (A) and local indicators of spatial association cluster map (B) for Gansu Province, January 23–February 3, 2020. Numbers in parentheses indicate number of counties.