68 Consecutive patients assessed for COVID-19 infection; experience from a UK regional infectious disease unit

Nicholas Easom; Peter Moss; Gavin Barlow; Anda Samson; Tom Taynton; Kate Adams; Monica Ivan; Phillipa Burns; Kavitha Gajee; Kirstine Eastick; Patrick Lillie

Specialist Infectious Diseases consultant-delivered assessment of a group of patients who predominantly have mild illness is unlikely to be sustainable, especially as the case-definition broadens to include a wider geographical area and/or COVID-19 patients requiring inpatient care becomes more common in the UK. There was a step-change in the number of suspected cases seen after the introduction of the third case definition on the evening of 6 th February 2020 as a high number of people with respiratory symptoms and recent travel suddenly became suspected of having COVID-19. As there is further spread in the coming weeks, as is the case in Italy and Iran, and the epidemiological criteria of the case definition is notably extended again, Infectious Diseases clinicians will be unable to sustain a hospital-based screening service. The NHS is responding to this challenge by moving to a community provider screening model, which will deliver the majority of testing in the home.