New measures and concepts in the control and prevention of COVID-19:What
we need to know
Abstract
The emergence and outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses
great challenges to our society, economy, and public health, and has
already become an international public health emergency. The prevention
and control of COVID-19 requires early detection and the timely and
effective control of virus dissemination. Front-line medical personnel
in the outpatient and emergency departments of hospitals, quarantine
centers, and entry and exit ports are key to the early detection and
control of COVID-19. Based on experiences in the prevention and control
of other new and recurrent infectious diseases, epidemiologists
previously proposed the concept of “vital sign zero” and the
“Identify-Isolate-Inform” (3I) system for the detection and control of
infectious diseases. The use of “vital sign zero” and the “3I
system” for COVID-19 will facilitate the prevention and control of new
infections, provide more timely treatment and effective isolation of
patients, and protect the safety and health of medical workers. These
concepts will also prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help to ensure
public health and safety.