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Journal ArticleDOI

SARS to novel coronavirus - old lessons and new lessons.

05 Feb 2020-Epidemiology and Infection (Cambridge University Press)-Vol. 148
TL;DR: The response to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China suggests that many of the lessons from the 2003 SARS epidemic have been implemented and the response improved as a consequence, but some questions remain and not all lessons have been successful.
Abstract: The response to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China suggests that many of the lessons from the 2003 SARS epidemic have been implemented and the response improved as a consequence. Nevertheless some questions remain and not all lessons have been successful. The national and international response demonstrates the complex link between public health, science and politics when an outbreak threatens to impact on global economies and reputations. The unprecedented measures implemented in China are a bold attempt to control the outbreak - we need to understand their effectiveness to balance costs and benefits for similar events in the future.
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Journal ArticleDOI
07 Apr 2020-JAMA
TL;DR: Hospitalised COVID-19 patients are frequently elderly subjects with co-morbidities receiving polypharmacy, all of which are known risk factors for d
Abstract: Background: Hospitalised COVID-19 patients are frequently elderly subjects with co-morbidities receiving polypharmacy, all of which are known risk factors for d

14,343 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: COVID-19 differs from SARS in terms of infectious period, transmissibility, clinical severity, and extent of community spread, but even if traditional public health measures are not able to fully contain the outbreak of CO VID-19, they will still be effective in reducing peak incidence and global deaths.
Abstract: Summary The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 resulted in more than 8000 cases and 800 deaths. SARS was eventually contained by means of syndromic surveillance, prompt isolation of patients, strict enforcement of quarantine of all contacts, and in some areas top-down enforcement of community quarantine. By interrupting all human-to-human transmission, SARS was effectively eradicated. By contrast, by Feb 28, 2020, within a matter of 2 months since the beginning of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), more than 82 000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported with more than 2800 deaths. Although there are striking similarities between SARS and COVID-19, the differences in the virus characteristics will ultimately determine whether the same measures for SARS will also be successful for COVID-19. COVID-19 differs from SARS in terms of infectious period, transmissibility, clinical severity, and extent of community spread. Even if traditional public health measures are not able to fully contain the outbreak of COVID-19, they will still be effective in reducing peak incidence and global deaths. Exportations to other countries need not result in rapid large-scale outbreaks, if countries have the political will to rapidly implement countermeasures.

738 citations


Cites methods from "SARS to novel coronavirus - old les..."

  • ...29 Standardised data collection tools were distributed and used within a matter of weeks, and the first clinical trials for therapeutic interventions was initiated in January....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The lock down of the COVID-19 pandemic caused the air quality in many cities across the globe to improve and drop in water pollutions in some parts of the world.

638 citations


Cites background from "SARS to novel coronavirus - old les..."

  • ...When the epidemic finally subside carbon and pollutant emissions get back then it would be as if this clear skied interlude never happened and the changes we see today will not have lasting impact (McCloskey and Heymann, 2020)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that 15 (21.4%) patients experienced a “turn positive” of nucleic acid detection by RT‐PCR test for SARS‐CoV‐2 after two consecutive negative results, which may be related to the false negative of RT‐ PCR test and prolongeducleic acid conversion.
Abstract: A novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic cause by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) threatens the world. We read with interest the recent report by Li et al. that included 610 patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19). They reported a high false‐negative rate of real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) results for SARS‐CoV‐2 detection. In addition, recent report regarding SARS‐CoV‐2 “turn positive” in recovered cases with COVID‐19 were published. Here, we studied the characteristics of nucleic acid conversion for SARS‐CoV‐2 from 70 COVID‐19 patients. We found that 15 (21.4%) patients experienced a “turn positive” of nucleic acid detection by RT‐PCR test for SARS‐CoV‐2 after two consecutive negative results, which may be related to the false negative of RT‐PCR test and prolonged nucleic acid conversionThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

458 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A significant proportion of HCWs had poor knowledge of its transmission and symptom onset and showed positive perceptions of COVID-19, and educational interventions are urgently needed to reach HCWs worldwide.
Abstract: Background: During the first week of March, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak reached more than 100 countries with over 100,000 cases. Health care authorities have already initiated awareness and preparedness activities worldwide. A poor understanding of the disease among health care workers (HCWs) may result in delayed treatment and result in the rapid spread of the infection. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs about COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among HCWs about COVID-19 during the first week of March 2020. A 23-item survey instrument was developed and distributed randomly to HCWs using social media; it required 5 minutes to complete. A chi-square test was used to investigate the level of association among variables, with significance set to P<.05. Results: Of 529 participants, a total of 453 HCWs completed the survey (response rate: 85.6%); 51.6% (n=234) were male, 32.1% (n=147) were aged 25-34 years, and most were doctors (n=137, 30.2%) and medical students (n=134, 29.6%). Most participants (n=276, 61.0%) used social media to obtain information on COVID-19. A significant proportion of HCWs had poor knowledge of its transmission (n=276, 61.0%) and symptom onset (n=288, 63.6%) and showed positive perceptions of COVID-19. Factors such as age and profession were associated with inadequate knowledge and a poor perception of COVID-19. Conclusions: As the global threat of COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is critical to improve the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs. Educational interventions are urgently needed to reach HCWs worldwide, and further studies are warranted.

342 citations


Cites background from "SARS to novel coronavirus - old les..."

  • ...In several instances, misunderstandings among HCWs have delayed controlling efforts to provide necessary treatment [11], led to the rapid spread of infection in hospitals [12,13], and put patients' lives at risk....

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References
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Posted ContentDOI
24 Jan 2020-medRxiv
TL;DR: Using a transmission model, a basic reproductive number is estimated for Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and it is estimated that 58-76% of transmissions must be prevented to stop increasing.
Abstract: Since first identified, the epidemic scale of the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China, has increased rapidly, with cases arising across China and other countries and regions. using a transmission model, we estimate a basic reproductive number of 3.11 (95%CI, 2.39-4.13); 58-76% of transmissions must be prevented to stop increasing; Wuhan case ascertainment of 5.0% (3.6-7.4); 21022 (11090-33490) total infections in Wuhan 1 to 22 January.

855 citations

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