Characteristics of Confirmed Novel Coronavirus Disease Cases at Shanghai East Hospital: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Abstract Background: Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the fever outpatient clinic has been open in Shanghai East Hospital (SEH). We analyzed the data for all 4,699 patients from SEH and the 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases among them to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases identified in the SEH. Methods: Data were collected for patients who visited the fever outpatient clinic in the SEH between January 23 and April 30, 2020. We compared the characteristics of confirmed cases, including age, occupation, area, symptoms, laboratory results, and computed tomography (CT) scans, by month.Results: By April 30, 4,699 patients had visited the fever outpatient clinic of the SEH; of those, 27 (0.57%) were confirmed COVID-19 cases. Among the confirmed domestic cases identified between January and February, four of five were from Wuhan, Hubei. Following the spread of the epidemic to other parts of the world, all confirmed cases identified in March–April were cases of individuals who were returning from abroad, mainly Chinese students living abroad. Further, all cases were from outside Shanghai, and no local residents were diagnosed in the clinic. Symptoms, laboratory tests, and CT scans were consistent with previous literature reports of positive COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: Given the necessity to control the spread of this epidemic domestically and abroad, the focus of COVID-19 prevention and control has shifted. In Shanghai, measures taken to prevent COVID-19 spread were very successful. Early isolation and quarantine are necessary and effective measures.