A Quickly Organized Response to a COVID-19 Positive Case Comeback After Clearance for over 2 Months in Shenzhen, China

Abstract

Background: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread quickly throughout the world. So far, there are no standard measures in terms of quick and effective control of new COVID-19 positive patient comeback after COVID-19 clearance for a certain time. Here, we report a quickly organized response from Luohu Hospital Group to a COVID-19 positive case comeback after clearance for over 2 months in Shenzhen, China.

Methods: After 2 months with no new COVID-19 cases in Shenzhen, on August 14, 2020, a supermarket employee living in the Luohu district of Shenzhen was tested positive in a nearby city. She has no any symptoms and signs, with unremarkable laboratory testing and radiological image, so she was soon diagnosed as asymptomatic COVID-19 positive case. Rapid contact tracing revealed that three of her relatives in Shenzhen were infected with COVID-19 and all of them were diagnosed as asymptomatic COVID-19 positive cases. To ensure residents' safety, Luohu hospital group (LHG) mounted a rapid organized response focusing on four measures: local environment management and residents' health monitoring, guidance for resumption of work, education and psychological counseling, and management of patients with fever in outpatient clinics.

Results: The LHG being structured as a people-centered, integrated organization responded to residents' medical and psychological needs rapidly, provided 6-hour results for COVID-19 testing, and recleared the city of COVID-19, as evidenced by the processing of 459,381 community samples within 15 days, with universally negative results beyond the originally identified case and her three close relatives.

Conclusions: A quick and effective response from local organization to a new comeback COVID-19 positive case after clearance for a certain time is necessary in terms of ensuring the physical and psychological health of residents, as well as guarantying normal social work.