Investigation and analysis on characteristics of a cluster of COVID-19 associated with exposure in a department store in Tianjin

Weishen WU; Yonggang LI; Zhaofei Wei; Penghui Zhou; Likun Lyu; Guoping Zhang; Ying Zhao; Haiyan HE; Xiaoyan LI; Lu Gao; Xiumei Zhang; Hui Liu; Ning Zhou; Yan Guo; Xiaomeng Zhang; Dan Zhang; Jing Liu; Ying Zhang

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Investigation and analysis on characteristics of a cluster of COVID-19 associated with exposure in a department store in Tianjin

VernacularTitle: 天津市某百货大楼新型冠状病毒肺炎聚集性疫情调查分析
Author: Weishen WU ¹ ; Yonggang LI ² ; Zhaofei WEI ¹ ; Penghui ZHOU ¹ ; Likun LYU ³ ; Guoping ZHANG ¹ ; Ying ZHAO ¹ ; Haiyan HE ¹ ; Xiaoyan LI ³ ; Lu GAO ¹ ; Xiumei ZHANG ² ; Hui LIU ¹ ; Ning ZHOU ¹ ; Yan GUO ¹ ; Xiaomeng ZHANG ¹ ; Dan ZHANG ¹ ; Jing LIU ¹ ; Ying ZHANG ¹
Author Information

1. Epidemiology Working Group for
2. Baodi District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 301800, China
3. Experimental Detection Group for COVID-19, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: COVID-19; Cluster; Control; Epidemiology
From: Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2020;41(4):489-493
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective:To describe the epidemiological characteristics of a cluster of COVID-19 cases reported in Baodi district of Tianjin as of 18 February, 2020, which might be associated with the exposure in a local department store, and provide suggestions for prevention and control strategy development.
Methods:The basic characteristics, time and area distributions, clinical manifestations, epidemiological history and transmission mode of the COVID-19 cases associated with the department store exposure were analyzed.
Results:A total of 40 COVID-19 cases were associated with the department store exposure, accounting for 75.47% of the total confirmed cases (53 cases) reported in Baodi district. The cases were mainly at the age of 60 years or older (35.00%) and farmers (40.00%). The main clinical manifestations included fever (95.00%), cough (35.00%), and diarrhea (15.00%). The proportion of confirmed severe cases was 32.50%. The incidence curve showed that the incidence peak occurred on 31 January, 2020. Among the 40 cases, 6(15.00%) were department store employees, 19(47.50%) were customers and 15(37.50%) were close contacts (secondary cases). The first case occurred on 21 January, 2020, this case was a department store employee who had a purchasing history at whole sale markets in other provinces and cities before the onset, and 3 employees were still on duty after symptom onsets. The median of the incubation period of customer cases was 6 days, and the median of the interval between onset and medical treatment of customer cases was 7 days.
Conclusion:This was a cluster epidemic of COVID-19, which might be associated with the exposure in the department store. By now, the current prevention and control measures have achieved satisfied effects.