Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of early COVID-19 cases, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

摘要: Objective: To describe the clinical presentation, course of disease and health-care seeking behaviour first few hundred cases coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in United Kingdom Great Britain Northern Ireland. Methods: We implemented World Health Organization's First Few X contacts investigation protocol for COVID-19. Trained public health professionals collected information on 381 virologically confirmed COVID-19 from 31 January 2020 to 9 April 2020. actively followed up identify exposure infection, symptoms outcomes. also limited data 752 symptomatic people testing negative COVID-19, as a control group analyses sensitivity, specificity predictive value symptoms. Findings: Approximately half were imported (196 cases; 51.4%), whom majority had recent travel Italy (140 71.4%). Of 94 (24.7%) secondary cases, almost all reported close contact with case (93 98.9%), many through household (37 39.8%). By age, lower proportion children Most presented cough, fever fatigue. The sensitivity varied by nonlinear relationships age. Although increased those other respiratory infections occurrence decreased shortness breath age greater cases. Conclusion: study has provided useful evidence generating definitions informed modelling studies likely burden