Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of 43 COVID-19 patients in Weifang, China.

Wang, Qingxiu; Zheng, Shiliang; Tan, Wei; Qi, Li; Shao, Weiguang; Zhang, Ming; Sun, Xiaodong

BACKGROUND To investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Weifang, China. METHODS The demographic data of 43 COVID-19 patients identified in Weifang were used to investigate whether they had traveled to epidemic areas and whether they had close contact with confirmed cases. On admission, patients' symptoms and results of laboratory tests and imaging were analyzed. RESULTS Among the 43 COVID-19 patients. including 9 third generation infected cases, 16 (37.2%) were imported, who infected the rest. Most cases were middle-aged with approximate sex ratio. A "super spreader", Mr. Zhang made it necessary to quarantine 69 medical personnel. Mr. Zhang directly infected six individuals who, in turn, infected another six individuals. Another patient, Mr. Wang, spread the infection to his five family members at a family gathering. Subsequently, the daughter infected her husband. The most common COVID-19 symptoms were fever, weakness, dry cough, and cough sputum. In most patients, white blood cell counts were not elevated and lymphocyte counts were decreased. Elevated C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) levels were commonly observed. There was no death among the patients or infection among the medical staff. CONCLUSIONS The infection by the COVID-19 in Weifang was mostly the result of close contact with imported cases. These circumstances underscore the need to comprehensively strengthen the management for patients to prevent and control the spread of the virus.