Novel Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan- fbg-2

Surveillance Guidelines in Response to COVID-19
Targeted audiences
• Clinical personnel: doctors, nurses, health care workers (anybody in regular close contact
with the suspected/probable COVID-19 case).
• Hospital clinical laboratory staff and/or public health laboratories
• Ministry of Health and Hospital Administration
Overall objective
Strengthen surveillance and infection control measures in the country
Specific objectives
• Raise awareness on COVID-19 risks and good surveillance practices
• Provide case management and investigation
• Reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 infection (good infection control practices)
• Ensure appropriateness of clinical sample taking, transportation in-country, and overseas
shipment to reference laboratories
Case Definition
Surveillance activities should focus on the following case definition of COVID-19 infection:
Fever or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath), AND any
person, including healthcare workers, who has had close contact 2 with a laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptom onset
OR
Fever and signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath), AND a
history of travel from Hubei Province, China within 14 days of symptom onset
OR
Fever and signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath)
requiring hospitalization, AND a history of travel from mainland China within 14 days of symptom
onset
2
Having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and bodily fluids of a
person with 2019-nCoV infection
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