Abstract：Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) so as to improve the understanding of epidemic rule of the disease. Methods The data of 139 confirmed cases were collected through individual questionnaire and investigation reports. The characteristics of the cases like spatial, temporal and population distribution, status of confirmed diagnosis after the onset of illness and cluster epidemics were descriptively analyzed. Results The median age of the 139 confirmed cases was 42 years, and the age group of 30-59 years accounted for 71.94%. The male-to-female ratio was 1.53∶1. Farmers/workers accounted for 56.83%. The proportions of common and mild cases were 59.71% and 30.21%, respectively. The imported and local cases accounted for 66.19% and 33.81%, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference in time distribution of the onset of illness between the imported and local cases(χ2 =26.534, P<0.001).The transmission mode of the epidemic had changed from the imported infection to imported and local co-infections.All 23 clusters occurred in family settings. The proportions of imported and local cases involving the clusters were 33.70% and 68.09%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (χ2=14.846, P<0.001). The median (interquartile interval) from the onset to reporting, from the onset to diagnosis, and from first visiting-doctor behavior to diagnosis was 4 (2,7) days, 6 (4,9) days and 3 (2,4) days, respectively. The reporting and confirmed diagnosis time of the cases first visiting a clinic or a township hospital was longer than that of the cases first visiting secondary or above medical institutions. Conclusions The sensitivity of surveillance of new acute infectious diseases in primary medical institutions needs to be further improved. In the next step of preventing and controlling the imported epidemics from abroad, all the entry personnel from countries with high-prevalence COVID-19 epidemics should accept centralized quarantine and medical observation.
2020, Vol. 27 
