COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COVID-19 EPIDEMIC IN HUBEI PROVINCE AND REST PARTS OF MAINLAND CHINA

Abstract

Background: China 's national-level anti-COVID-19 campaign has been going on for a month. With the development of the epidemic, it is found that COVID-19 severity in Hubei province (Hubei) is different from the rest of mainland China (Rest of China). It is necessary to compare the two areas, summarize experiences and lessons, analyze the epidemic trend and further point out the direction for the campaign. Methods: Prevent, quarantine and treat the disease according to The Novel Coronavirus Infected Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Standards. Collect the numbers of total close contacts, daily observation cases, daily suspected cases, total conrmed cases, daily severe cases, total deaths from January 20 to February 19, input them into SPSS 25 and Microsoft ofce 2019 excel for data processing, statistical analysis and drawing. Findings: Total conrmed cases in Hubei account for 83.2% of the country. Daily suspected cases growth rates for both areas have become negative since February 9. Daily observation cases in Rest of China reached highest point on February 5 as opposed to February 13 in Hubei, and total close contacts growth rates for the last three days are declining steadily to 1.9% and 3.8% respectively. Total conrmed cases growth rate has hit the lowest levels in Rest of China at 0.34% by comparison with 0.57% in Hubei. Mean fatality rate and mean percentage of severe cases for the last three days in Rest of China are 0.67% and 5.83% in contrast to 3.12% and 18.2% in Hubei. There have been very signicant differences in fatality rate and percentage of severe cases existing in the two areas since January 23 and 24 respectively (P<0.01). Interpretation: Hubei is the main epidemic area. COVID-19 has low fatality rate and high transmissibility. Cutting off the source of infection is pivotal in containing COVID-19 outbreak and has a guiding effect on prevention and control of pandemic worldwide. The Novel Coronavirus Infected Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Standards has played an important role in helping medical staff across the country to ght the epidemic. Coordinating national medical resources to support disaster areas, making full use of the existing facilities to isolate and quarantine, providing timely and accurate treatment can reduce fatality rate. Further efforts are needed to develop highly effective Chinese medicines, western drugs and vaccines in order to eradicate the virus or prevent the epidemic from continuing.