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COVID-19: Epidemiologic Investigation
Experience of a COVID-19 outbreak response in a general hospital in Gyeonggi Province, Korea
Chanhee Kim, Gawon Choi, Shin Young Park, Jieun Kim, Young Joon Park, Kyungnam Kim
Epidemiol Health. 2021;43:e2021083.   Published online October 18, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2021083
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  • 3 Web of Science
  • 2 Crossref
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDF
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks in general hospitals are particularly risky because they not only overburden the regional healthcare delivery system, but also increase the possibility of community transmission. This study shares an experience of a COVID-19 outbreak response in a general hospital in Gyeonggi Province, Korea.
METHODS
Since the first COVID-19 confirmed case was recognized in Hospital A on March 29, 2020, the Immediate Response Team of Gyeonggi Province and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency devised a plan to conduct an epidemiological investigation and minimize the paralysis of hospital functions. Apart from the epidemiological investigation, a risk assessment of the hospital and management of contacts, including patients and workers, were also undertaken.
RESULTS
In total, 72 confirmed cases were identified, including 26 hospitalized patients, 16 healthcare personnel, 7 visitors, and 22 cases identified externally. The majority of the confirmed cases were exposed in Ward B or were contacts of people exposed in Ward A (58.3% of 72 cases). Among healthcare personnel, caregivers were found to be the most vulnerable to COVID-19 in this outbreak.
CONCLUSIONS
Preparation for all possible situations in medical facilities is important because it is difficult to find alternative resources. The findings of this study provide information on controlling the further transmission of COVID-19 and furnish evidence of the importance of ordinary management skills to be prepared for COVID-19.
Summary
Korean summary
본 연구에서는 2020년 경기도 소재 한 종합병원에서 발생한 코로나19 유행 대응 사례 경험을 공유한다. 병원 외 지역사회 전파 사례를 포함하여 총 72명의 확진자가 이 유행에서 확인되었다. 종합병원은 지역 의료전달체계에서 중요한 역할을 하고 있기 때문에 코로나19로 인해 그 기능이 마비되지 않도록 예방하는 것이 가장 바람직하며, 이를 위해서는 평상 시에 적절한 대비 체계를 갖추어 두어야 한다.
Key Message
This study shares the experience of responding to the COVID-19 outbreak at a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do, 2020. A total of 72 confirmed cases were identified, including cases of community based transmission outside the hospital. Since general hospitals play an important role in the medical delivery system, it is most desirable to prevent the function from being paralyzed by COVID-19 situation, and for this, and appropriate preparedness should be established.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Vaccine effectiveness and the epidemiological characteristics of a COVID-19 outbreak in a tertiary hospital in Republic of Korea
    Seonhee Ahn, Tae Jong Son, Yoonsuk Jang, Jihyun Choi, Young Joon Park, Jiseon Seong, Hyun Hee Kwon, Muk Ju Kim, Donghyok Kwon
    Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2023; 14(3): 188.     CrossRef
  • Effect of changes in the hearing aid subsidy on the prevalence of hearing loss in South Korea
    Chul Young Yoon, Junhun Lee, Tae Hoon Kong, Young Joon Seo
    Frontiers in Neurology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
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