Community Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Shenzhen, China, 2020

Abstract

Since early January 2020, after the outbreak of coronavirus infection in Wuhan, China, ≈365 confirmed cases have been reported in Shenzhen, China. The mode of community and intrafamily transmission is threatening residents in Shenzhen. Strategies to strengthen prevention and interruption of these transmissions should be urgently addressed.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus; COVID-19; China; SARS-CoV-2; Shenzhen; community transmission; coronavirus; epidemiologic; respiratory infections; severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses.

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Onset of illness timeline for the first 365 confirmed COVID-19 case-patients in Shenzhen, China. The decline in incidence after January 30, 2020, probably resulted from delays in diagnosis and laboratory confirmation. All cases in this curve were confirmed. Hospital-based surveillance began January 8, 2020, for patients with suspected cases, defined by having a history of travel to Wuhan within the past 14 days, fever, and radiographic evidence of viral pneumonitis. PCR confirmation began January 13, 2020, and subsequently expanded the criteria for patients with suspected cases, defined by having typical clinical manifestations of COVID-19 and excluding infection caused by type A and B influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, regardless of travel history. NCIP, novel coronavirus–infected pneumonia (now called COVID-19).