Epidemiological Analysis of Ambulant Patients in a COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic

Epidemiological Analysis of Ambulant Patients in a COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic

There is insufficient knowledge about transmission routes and the effectiveness of general protective measures to prevent infection, such as the closure of schools or the wearing of mouthguards. This will be illustrated using the example of the COVID-19 outpatient clinic in Solingen and the positive COVID-19 tests registered there.

Another aspect we would like to address in this study is the number of COVID-19 tests performed against the background of political events or dramatic accumulations of COVID-19 cases in other parts of Germany or Europe. Do speeches by political leaders about the COVID-19 situation or a very strong regional spread of infection elsewhere have an impact on the frequency with which people react sensitively to suspicious symptoms and undergo testing for infection?

The aim of this study is to analyse the frequency of positive COVID-19 tests and the infection chains in Solingen since February 2020:

1. a prospective survey (telephone contact) of the positively tested patients is done to analyze the social environment and thus provide information about possible transmission routes. Is transmission mainly within the family through visits from relatives or rather through large extra-familial gatherings, such as in the case of the open huts and après-ski bars in Ischgl? Are there age- or gender-specific transmission routes (personal habits, travel)?
2. analysis of the number of positive tests in connection with general measures to contain the infection (closure of schools, mouthguards obligation, etc.)
3. characterization of positively tested patients based on anthropometric data and medical history.
4. the effect of political events and developments in world affairs on the daily visitor frequency in the COVID-19 outpatient clinic will be retrospectively investigated. Is there an accumulation of tests after speeches by politicians or public figures (Angela Merkel, Armin Laschet, Queen Elizabeth II, etc.) or after dramatic infection numbers in other parts of Germany or Europe (Heinsberg, Ischgl, etc.)?

Inclusion Criteria:

• positive COVID-19 test result

Exclusion Criteria:

• negative COVID-19 test result
• Any medical, psychological or other condition which restricts the ability to provide information or consent of the patient for voluntary participation in this examination