COVID-19 outbreak at an aged-care facility in Selangor, Malaysia, March–April 2020

Abstract

Objective: Aged-care facilities are high-risk settings for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks because residents have risk factors such as advanced age and multiple comorbidities. This report details a COVID-19 outbreak at an aged-care facility in Selangor, Malaysia during March–April 2020. Methods: Epidemiological and environmental data were gathered via telephone interviews and field investigations. Swab samples were taken from all residents and staff for laboratory investigation. Possible contributing factors to the outbreak were explored. Results: There were a total of 18 individuals at the institution: nine elderly residents and nine staff. The attack rate was 66.67% (6/9) among the elderly residents and 55.56% (5/9) among the staff. The most common symptoms reported were fever, cough, shortness of breath and diarrhoea. The fatality rate among COVID-19 cases was 18.18% (2/11). Both fatal cases occurred in people of advanced age (86 and 92 years old), who had comorbidities and had fever at presentation. The factors contributing to the outbreak included a delay in isolating symptomatic residents, the use of common facilities, caregivers providing support to more than one resident and a lack of natural ventilation. Discussion: Prevention and control measures must be aggressively implemented in high-risk sites to significantly reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality during COVID-19 outbreaks. Specific guidelines should be developed detailing the management of outbreaks in institutions such as aged-care facilities.

Analysis of the Current Situation of Service Quality in Private Elderly Institutions and Reflections on Improvement

“…It is worth mentioning that with the development of society and advancements in technology, the needs of the elderly for eldercare services are no longer limited to basic life assistance but increasingly encompass the pursuit of quality living. This necessitates that service personnel in eldercare institutions possess not only basic nursing skills but also certain cultural literacy and psychological counseling abilities to meet the diverse spiritual and cultural needs of the elderly [3]. Regrettably, many current private elderly care institutions still fall short in this regard, unable to fully meet the higher-level needs of the elderly.…”