Emerging Infectious Diseases (Sep 2023)

Patient Characteristics During Early Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Palau, January 13–February 24, 2022

  • Braiden Eilers,
  • Myra D. Adelbai-Fraser,
  • Johnrey R. Collado,
  • Miriam Van Dyke,
  • Melanie Firestone,
  • Angie S. Guinn,
  • Michael T. Dillon,
  • Richard Brostrom,
  • Michael H. Kinzer,
  • Nick Muñoz,
  • Kazuhiro Okumura,
  • Vance Brown,
  • Oluwatomiloba Ademokun,
  • Ritter Udui,
  • Gaafar J. Uherbelau,
  • W. Thane Hancock

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2909.230182
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 9
pp. 1939 – 1941

Abstract

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Palau had no reported evidence of COVID-19 community spread until January 2022. We chart reviewed hospitalized patients who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result during early community transmission. Booster vaccinations and early outpatient treatment decreased hospitalizations. Inadequate hospital infection control practices contributed to iatrogenic COVID-19 and preventable deaths.

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