Prompt successful response to a COVID-19 outbreak: Performance of community-based rapid screening station

Abstract

An outbreak occurred in Wanhua District of Taipei City. It was traced to a cluster infection originating from a teahouse. To prevent further large-scaled community spread, the Taipei City Government established the first community rapid test screening station. This report describes the station’s strategy and performance and key factors that contributed to its operation.The project involves collaboration among various departments of Taipei City Government, including the health, environmental, police, transportation, and fire departments. The station provides rapid screening, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, and immediate isolation and follow-up medical services upon the detection of a positive case. These services are accessible to local residents and are intended to ease hospitals’ burdens. In 36 days, a total of 8,532 people were tested, and 419 confirmed cases were identified. Over the same period, the weekly number of positive cases in Wanhua District decreased from 356 to 40, and the PCR positive rate decreased from 21.7% to 1.2%. The policy of establishing rapid screening station, contact tracing and mask wearing policy are key strategies for interrupting chains of transmission of COVID-19. This intervention has become a model for preventing the spread of the epidemic and establishing community rapid screening stations in Taiwan.

Perceived COVID-19-related stress drives home gardening intentions and improves human health in Taiwan

“…Conversely, reducing the number of cases reduced perceived stress. In this study, the government established a rapid community testing strategy with health, environmental, police, transportation, and fire departments with immediate isolation and medical services upon the detection of a positive case, and integrated mask-wearing and contact-tracing systems to reduce the spread of the virus ( Liu et al, 2022 ).…”

“…A COVID-19 outbreak occurred in Taipei City, Taiwan in May 2021 ( Liu et al, 2022 ). The government established a screening strategy to reduce the spread of the virus on May 14 ( Liu et al, 2022 ).…”

“…A COVID-19 outbreak occurred in Taipei City, Taiwan in May 2021 ( Liu et al, 2022 ). The government established a screening strategy to reduce the spread of the virus on May 14 ( Liu et al, 2022 ). The seven-day moving average of new daily cases was higher than 40 during the onset period (15th of May 2021) ( Fig.…”

Preventing and controlling intra-hospital spread of COVID-19 in Taiwan – Looking back and moving forward

“…Following a cluster of infections in Wanhua District, Taipei City, a surge of COVID-19 cases occurred mainly in northern Taiwan during May to July 2021. 31 An undiagnosed resident from Wanhua resulted in a cluster of COVID-19 cases in a nearby medical center. 32 Overall, a total of 26 hospitals among 495 hospitals in Taiwan reported 54 outbreaks of COVID-19 with 512 confirmed cases between January 2020 and July 2021.…”