ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has become a global pandemic with an increasing burden on healthcare. Early recognition of the trend and pattern of the chain of transmission is necessary to slow down the spread. AIM: Therefore, the study aimed to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 at a local setting. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done to all COVID-19 cases registered in Seremban Health District. Statistical analysis, using Chi-square test, was employed to compare the sociodemographic characteristic of COVID-19 patients between the red zone area and the non-red zone area in Seremban. RESULTS: As of April, a total of 214 number of COVID-19 cases reported in Seremban district alone. The trend of cases registered has changed as more asymptomatic infection outnumbered patients with clinical symptoms from the aggressive active case detection (ACD) activity. Majority of the cases affecting Malay ethnicity were due to a large religious gathering event held 1 month earlier than subsequently spread the infection within the community. CONCLUSION: The first wave of COVID-19 cases in Seremban was sudden and unexpected, with a skewed distribution affecting a particular race group regardless red zone area and non-red zone area. Therefore, identifying the pattern of infection in the local community is important for a focused intervention strategy. ACD strategy, isolation of patients, quarantine the exposed, tracking down the close contact, and continuous health promotion and education will ultimately break the chain of transmission.