Nosocomial Coronavirus Disease Outbreak Containment, Hanoi, Vietnam, March–April 2020 - Volume 27, Number 1—January 2021 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Type Journal Article Author Cuong Duy Author Vuong Minh Nong Author An Van Ngo Author Tra Thu Doan Author Tuan Quang Nguyen Author Phuong Thai Truong Author Linus Olson Author Mattias Larsson URL https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/1/20-2656_article Volume 27 Issue 1 Publication Emerging Infectious Diseases journal | CDC Date 00/01/2021 DOI 10.3201/eid2701.202656 Library Catalog wwwnc.cdc.gov Language en-us Abstract We report on the public health response generated by an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that occurred during March 2020 at Bach Mai Hospital (BMH) in Hanoi, northern Vietnam’s largest hospital complex. On March 18, a total of 3 distinct clusters of COVID-19 cases were identified at BMH. Diagnosis of the initial 3 COVID-19 cases led to contact tracing, symptom screening, and testing of 495 persons and limited quarantine of affected institutes or departments. When 27 staff members in the catering company tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the entire BMH staff (7,664 persons) was put under quarantine. Contact tracing in the community resulted in an additional 52,239 persons being quarantined. After 3 weeks, the hospital outbreak was contained; no further spread occurred in the hospital. Rapid screening of cases, extensive testing, prompt quarantine, contact tracing, and social distancing contributed to prevent community transmission in Hanoi and northern Vietnam.