Epidemiological characteristics of imported COVID-19 cases from abroad to Zhejiang Province / 预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To learn the epidemiological characteristics of imported coronavirus disease 2019（COVID-19）cases from abroad to Zhejiang Province reported from March 1 to April 7,2020,so as to provide basis for improving the prevention and control of COVID-19 imported epidemic. @*Methods@# The imported COVID-19 cases and related local cases reported in Zhejiang Province from March 1 to April 7 were extracted from the National Diseases Prevention and Control Information System and were checked with the epidemiological investigation reports. A descriptive analysis was adopted for the epidemiological characteristics of imported COVID-19 cases,including time,spatial and population distribution,clinical classification,country of origin and contact history of related local cases. @*Results@#The first imported COVID-19 case was reported on March 1. By April 7,totally 91 imported cases were reported,including 48（52.75%）confirmed cases and 43（47.25%）asymptomatic cases. In terms of clinical classification,there were 32（66.67%）ordinary cases and 16（33.33%）mild cases;no severe,critical or dead cases were reported. The symptoms of 41 confirmed cases came out after entry. The median time between entry and onset was 3 days,and the intervals of 4 cases were 14 days or over. All the 11 cities in Zhejiang Province had imported cases,among which Lishui and Wenzhou reported 24（26.37%）and 21（23.08%）cases. Of all the imported cases,81（89.01%）aged from 10 to 49 years;31（34.07%）were overseas students,21（23.08%）were business people and 19（20.88%）were catering staff;69（75.82%） came from European countries such as Italy,UK and Spain. In addition,a local case on the same flight with a imported case was reported on March 26. @*Conclusions @#The imported COVID-19 cases of Zhejiang Province were relatively young,most were asymptomatic or ordinary cases. They were mainly overseas students,business people and catering staff,from European countries such as Italy,UK and Spain,to Lishui and Wenzhou. Strict control measures should be done in entry quarantine,transfer and isolation to prevent local transmission caused by imported cases.