Most persons with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have no or mild symptoms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities need efficient methods to monitor asymptomatic patients to reduce transmission. We describe the structure and operating protocols of a community treatment center (CTC) run by Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) in South Korea. SNUH converted an existing facility into a CTC to isolate patients who had confirmed COVID-19 but mild or no symptoms. Patients reported self-measured vital signs and symptoms twice a day by using a smartphone application. Medical staff in a remote monitoring center at SNUH reviewed patient vital signs and provided video consultation to patients twice daily. The CTC required few medical staff to perform medical tests, monitor patients, and respond to emergencies. During March 5–26, 2020, we admitted and treated 113 patients at this center. CTCs could be an alternative to hospital admission for isolating patients and preventing community transmission.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, 2019 novel coronavirus disease, coronavirus disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, viruses, respiratory infections, zoonoses, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, SARS, South Korea, Community treatment center, quarantine facility, CTC, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, protocol, COVID-19 pandemic, Transmission, Symptom, remote monitoring, Patient, Community, Mild, community transmission, vital sign, Hospital admission, patients, asymptomatic patient, mild symptoms, no symptoms, MONITOR, MOST, reported, required, provided, treated, reduce, respond, 113 patient, Seoul National University, 【제목키워드】 center,