Introduction: “Long COVID” is a multisystem disease that lasts for 4 or more weeks following initial symptoms of COVID-19. In the UK, at least 10% of patient report symptoms at 12 weeks following a positive COVID-19 test. The aims of this quality improvement survey were to explore patients’ acute and post-acute “long” COVID-19 symptoms, their experiences of community services and their recommendations for improving these services. Methods: Seventy patients diagnosed with COVID were randomly selected from 2 large socially and ethnically diverse primary care practices. Of those contactable by telephone, 85% (41/48) agreed to participate in the quality improvement survey. They were interviewed by telephone using a semi-structured questionnaire about community services for COVID-19 patients. Interviews lasted 10 to 15 minutes. Results: Forty-nine percent of patients reported at least 1 post-acute COVID-19 symptom. The most common were severe fatigue (45%), breathlessness (30%), neurocognitive difficulties (such as poor memory), poor concentration and “brain fog” (30%), headaches (20%), and joint pain (20%). Many patients felt isolated and fearful, with scant information about community resources and little safety netting advice. Patients also expected more from primary care with over half (56%) recommending regular phone calls and follow up from healthcare staff as the most important approach in their recovery. Conclusions: In line with patients’ requests for more support, the practices now routinely refer patients with long COVID to an on-site social prescriber who explores how they are getting on, refers them to the GP or practice nurse when required, and sign posts them to support services in the community.

Background The contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of health care workers (HCWs) are essential to minimizing the further transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mitigating the shortage of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Objective This study aimed to assess the yield of contact tracing for COVID-19 cases and the risk stratification of HCWs who are exposed to these cases. Methods This was an analysis of routine data that were collected for the contact tracing of COVID-19 cases at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, in Odisha, India. Data from March 19 to August 31, 2020, were considered for this study. COVID-19 cases were admitted patients, outpatients, or HCWs in the hospital. HCWs who were exposed to COVID-19 cases were categorized, per the risk stratification guidelines, as high-risk contacts or low-risk contacts Results During contact tracing, 3411 HCWs were identified as those who were exposed to 360 COVID-19 cases. Of these 360 cases, 269 (74.7%) were either admitted patients or outpatients, and 91 (25.3%) were HCWs. After the risk stratification of the 3411 HCWs, 890 (26.1%) were categorized as high-risk contacts, and 2521 (73.9%) were categorized as low-risk contacts. The COVID-19 test positivity rates of high-risk contacts and low-risk contacts were 3.8% (34/890) and 1.9% (48/2521), respectively. The average number of high-risk contacts was significantly higher when the COVID-19 case was an admitted patient (number of contacts: mean 6.6) rather than when the COVID-19 case was an HCW (number of contacts: mean 4.0) or outpatient (number of contacts: mean 0.2; P=.009). Similarly, the average number of high-risk contacts was higher when the COVID-19 case was admitted in a non–COVID-19 area (number of contacts: mean 15.8) rather than when such cases were admitted in a COVID-19 area (number of contacts: mean 0.27; P<.001). There was a significant decline in the mean number of high-risk contacts over the study period (P=.003). Conclusions Contact tracing and risk stratification were effective and helped to reduce the number of HCWs requiring quarantine. There was also a decline in the number of high-risk contacts during the study period. This indicates the role of the implementation of hospital-based, COVID-19–related infection control strategies. The contact tracing and risk stratification approaches that were designed in this study can also be implemented in other health care settings.

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BACKGROUND Contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of Health Care Workers (HCWs) is essential to minimize further transmission of SARS-CoV2 infection. OBJECTIVE In this study, we have reported the yield of contact tracing of COVID-19 cases and risk stratification of HCWs exposed to them. METHODS This is an analysis of routine data collected for contact tracing of COVID-19 cases from 19th March to 31st August 2020 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. COVID-19 cases were either admitted patients, out-patients, or HCWs in the hospital. HCWs who were exposed to COVID-19 cases were categorized as per the risk stratification guidelines into high-risk contacts and low-risk contacts RESULTS During contact tracing, 3411 HCWs were identified as exposed to 360 COVID-19 cases. Out of 360, 269 (74.7%) were either admitted or out-patients and 91(26.1%) were HCWs. After risk stratification 890 (26.1%) were categorized as high-risk contacts and 2521 (73.9%) were categorized as low-risk contacts. The test positivity rate of high-risk contact and low-risk contacts were 3.82% and 1.90%, respectively. The average number of high-risk contacts was significantly higher when the COVID-19 case was an admitted patient (6.6) rather than when the COVID-19 case was an HCW (4.0) or outpatient (0.2), p-value = 0.009. Similarly, the average number of high-risk contacts was higher when the COVID-19 case was admitted in non-COVID-19 area (15.8) as compared to COVID-19 area (0.27), p value < 0.001. There was significant decline in mean number of high-risk contacts over the study period. CONCLUSIONS Contact tracing and risk stratification was effective and helped in reducing the number of HCWs going for quarantine. There was also a decline in high-risk contacts during study period suggesting role of implementation of hospital based COVID-19 related infection control strategies. This contact tracing and risk stratification approach designed in the current study can also be implemented in other healthcare settings.

Introduction: Contact tracing and subsequently quarantining of HCWs is essential to minimize further transmission. In this study, we have reported our experience of contact tracing and risk categorization in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India. Methodology: This is a secondary data analysis of routine data collected from 19th March to 31st August 2020 during the process of contact tracing in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India amongst 3411 health care workers (HCWs). HCWs exposed to COVID-19 infections were categorized as per the risk stratification guidelines and the high risk cases were quarantined for 14 days and tested on 7th day of last contact. The low risk contacts were encouraged to closely monitor their symptoms and allowed to continue work. Results: Out of 3411 contacts 890 (26.1%) were high risk contacts and 2521 (73.9%) were low risk contacts. The test positivity rate of high risk contact was 3.82% and for low risk contact was 1.9%. Number of high risk contacts was more in Non-COVID area (15.84) as compared to COVID area (0.27); p value < 0.001), amongst IPD patients (6.61) as compared to staff (4.02) and OPD (0.22) ; p value = 0.009 and when clustering of cases present (14.35) as compared to isolated cases (8.21); p value < 0.001 Conclusion: The case identification, risk stratification and contact tracing have helped in reducing the number of contacts with due course of time, so preventing the depletion of human resources for continuing health care. The contact tracing approach designed in the current study can also be implemented in other healthcare settings. Key word: COVID-19, contact tracing, health care workers, risk stratification