Objectives : To study COVID‐19 (Delta Variant) cases and close contacts co‐located within households. Focusing on epidemiology of transmission of COVID‐19, quarantine duration and utilisation of infection control behaviours under a telehealth model of care in an elimination setting. Methods : A retrospective cohort analysis examined household spread of infection, duration of quarantine and change in PCR CT value during illness. A survey explored infection control behaviours used by household members during isolation and quarantine. Results : The cohort was 141 individuals in 35 households. Thirty‐seven were index cases, and 48 became positive during quarantine, most within 10 days. Whole‐household infection occurred in 12 households with multiple members. Behaviours focused on fomite transmission reduction rather than preventing aerosol transmission. The median duration of close contact household quarantine was 25 days. The majority of COVID‐19 cases were de‐isolated after 14 days with no evidence of further community transmission. Conclusion : Intrahousehold transmission was not universal and, if it occurred, usually occurred quickly. Behaviours utilised focused on fomites, suggesting a need for improved education regarding the potential utilisation of strategies to prevention the transmission of aerosols. Households experienced long durations of home‐based quarantine. Implications for public health : The impact of long quarantine durations must be considered, particularly where most community benefit from quarantine is achieved within 10 days from exposure in the setting of the Delta Variant. Education of households regarding aerosol risk reduction is a potential strategy in the household setting of individuals at risk of disease progression.

Background: The COVID-19 virtual ward was created to provide care for people at home with COVID-19. Only a small proportion required hospital admission during their care. Given this was a new model of care, little was known about the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients requiring admission to hospital from the virtual ward platform. Aim: A retrospective observational study with the aim to characterise hospital admission volume, patient epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcome form a virtual ward in the setting of an omicron BA.1 and BA.2 outbreak. Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed for all virtual ward patients admitted from 1st January 2022 to 25th March 2022. Patients had to be at least 16 years old to be included. Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data was reviewed on all patients who required admission to hospital. This was analysed to describe this patient cohort. Results: A total of 7021 patients were cared for on the virtual ward over the study period with 473 referred to hospital for assessment. Twenty-six (0.4%) patients were admitted to hospital during their care on the ward. Twenty-two (84.6%) admissions were COVID-19 related. Fifty three percent of the hospitalised patients were fully vaccinated, and 11 had received prior therapeutics for COVID-19 in the community. There was one ICU admission, and one in-hospital mortality. Shortness of breath was the most common reason for escalation to hospital. Chest pain was the second most common reason and the most common diagnosis after investigation was non-cardiac chest pain that spontaneously resolved. Conclusions: Few patients required admission from the virtual ward in the setting of the omicron variant (BA.1, BA.2) as a direct result of COVID-19 disease and virtual ward care. Shortness of breath and chest pain were the most common symptoms driving further clinical care.

Background: The COVID-19 virtual ward was created to provide care for people at home with COVID-19. Given this was a new model of care, little was known about the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients requiring admission to hospital from the virtual ward platform.The aims were to characterise hospital admission volume, patient epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcome from a virtual ward in the setting of an Omicron (BA.1, BA.2) outbreak.Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed for all virtual ward patients admitted from 1st January 2022 to 25th March 2022 (over 16 years old).Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data was reviewed on all patients who required hospital admission.Results: A total of 7021 patients were cared for on the virtual ward over the study period with 473 referred to hospital for assessment. Twenty-six (0.4%) patients were admitted to hospital during their care on the ward. Twenty-two (84.6%) admissions were COVID-19 related. Fifty three percent of the hospitalised patients were fully vaccinated and 11 had received prior therapeutics for COVID-19. Shortness of breath was the most common reason for escalation to hospital. Chest pain was the second most common reason and the most common diagnosis after investigation was non-cardiac chest pain.Conclusions: Few patients required admission from the virtual ward in the setting of the Omicron variant (BA.1, BA.2) as a direct result of COVID-19 disease and virtual ward care. Shortness of breath and chest pain were the most common symptoms driving further clinical care.