February 12, 2020

Early lessons from the frontline of the 2019-nCoV outbreak

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

• Zhang describes the challenges early in the Wuhan 2019-nCoV outbreak. Areas mentioned with implications for policy include transparency of information, including timely public information; provider awareness of atypical presentations, potentially affecting spread across provider settings and insufficient use of respiratory precautions by providers; appreciation of alternate, non-respiratory routes of transmission; availability of personal protective equipment; assuring therapeutic drug supply; and implications of insufficient hospital beds and cancellation of outpatient services, ultimately impacting disease spread, morbidity, and mortality.

Zhang H (Feb 11, 2020) Early lessons from the frontline of the 2019-nCoV outbreak. The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30356-1